Another come-from-behind win from the Panthers against the Rabbitohs on Saturday has been soured with the club looking into allegations of racial abuse aimed at South Sydney star Greg Inglis.
Inglis, who is returning from an injury that ruled him out for most of last season, was the target of boos at Penrith after he was forced to leave the field after a head knock.
If that wasn't bad enough, the Panthers have now confirmed that they were notified of racial abuse which they are now looking into.
“Panthers has been made aware of an allegation of racial abuse directed at South Sydney player Greg Inglis by a member of the crowd at Panthers Stadium yesterday," club CEO Brian Fletcher said via a statement.
"I wish to make it clear our club does not tolerate this kind of behaviour in any form.
"We will work with the NRL to investigate the matter and any perpetrators will be swiftly dealt with.
"Our club apologises unreservedly to Greg Inglis for the upset caused by the alleged incident.”
— Penrith Panthers (@PenrithPanthers) March 18, 2018
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Former NRL star Willie Mason was appalled by the allegations and has called on the club to take strong action.
Whoever the racist pieces of shit that called Greg Inglis a “Black Dog”while he was walking off with concussion yesterday in Penrith should be banned from any @NRL games and the club should be fined!its embarrassing to our game. @greg_inglis it’s 2018 wake up!!
— Willie Mason WMM 💯🇦🇺🇹🇴 (@mase21) March 18, 2018
Penrith prop James Tamou was very disappointed about the allegations.
"I'm pretty disgusted to be honest," he told ABC Grandstand.
"Especially to GI who's done so much for the game."
Inglis was unable to return to the field after copping a knock in the second half as the Rabbitohs surrendered a 14-0 lead to lose 18-14.
The 31-year-old suffered an ACL injury in Round 1 in 2017 and made a long-awaited return against the Warriors in Perth last week.
Inglis began his NRL career with the Storm in 2005 before making the switch to South Sydney in 2011.
