Incoming Panthers coach Anthony Griffin doesn't have a problem with current skipper Peter Wallace despite their ungracious parting of ways from the Broncos in 2013.
Wallace was coached by Griffin at Red Hill for three years before he returned to Penrith, and has previously said there wasn't a matter of trust between Griffin and the playing group and he wasn't pleased in the manner he parted ways with the Broncos.
Late on in 2013 Wallace was benched for the final seven games of the season with Griffin preferring now-Kangaroos representative Ben Hunt at halfback.
Wallace, who has required two knee reconstructions over the past two seasons at the Panthers, has a year to run on his contract and is yet to comment on Griffin's appointment at the foot of the mountains, but his former coach is looking to make amends.
Revealed as the new head coach of the Panthers for three seasons on Wednesday, it hailed a new era at the club under the watchful eye of Executive General Manager Phil Gould.
"There is no problem there at all. At this level rugby league is a tough business, I felt for Peter at the time but I made the decision that Brisbane needed Ben Hunt as a halfback," Griffin said during the announcement of his unveiling.
"Those things are things that happen every day of the week in professional rugby league and my job as the coach of that club was to make a decision on what I thought was best for the long term future of the Broncos.
"I am at the Panthers now and those decisions were made for another day and another club. I will be making decisions for the club I am working for now.
"It hurt me to make it at the time because I knew it was going to hurt Peter but it was my opinion Ben was best long term for the club and that was the call I made."
On potential roster changes Griffin went on to put Wallace's halves partner Jamie Soward on notice, amidst speculation the Panthers have been shopping the veteran five-eighth around.
"If [Jamie] trains hard enough he will be [in the team]," Griffin said.
"I've only seen the playing list over the past couple of days but my first priority is to set a standard here – and that's not to say there hasn't been standards here but that's just the way I work – but any player who wants to work hard enough will get an opportunity."
On top of the squad he's inherited Griffin will have to make do with the coaching staff Gould has locked and loaded for season 2016, including the promotion of former Holden Cup and NSW Cup coach Garth Brennan to NRL assistant coach.
"It's fair to say we have already done a lot of work in preparation for next year and there's been a lot of discussion around our roster," Gould said.
"Rosters are always evolving and we'll impart what we know about it to Anthony, and he can make his own decisions from there. We always consult with the head coach before we recruit.
"I've asked Anthony to spend the next 12 months making his own assessment and if he sees need for change after a year then we'll try and give him what he wants.
"We have a simple philosophy here: players play, coaches coach and administrators administrate – we don't do each other's jobs, it's as simple as that."
