Few jobs can rival coaching for stress. Adrian Proszenko observes
first-hand how the Panthers' Matthew Elliott deals with the
torturous trials of game day.

The game hasn't even started and already Matthew Elliott is banging his fists against the window of the coach's box. He attempts to grab the attention of Andrew Johns, an interested spectator who is seated a couple of metres below and separated by just a pane of glass at Homebush's ANZ Stadium. Unable to catch the great man's eye, he switches his focus to his own "Joey", halfback Joe Williams, who kicks off the game.

It is an inauspicious start for Williams in his first game for the Panthers, as the ball barely trickles to the opposition's 30-metre line.

"F--- me, Joe, I could throw the ball further," Elliott mutters into his headset. And so it begins.

The Sun-Herald was given a unique behind-the-scenes insight into Elliott's game-day experience during last Sunday's trial against the Bulldogs. The Penrith coach may have been initially reluctant to allow an onlooker to take a place in the coach's box, but he was soon oblivious to our presence - as shown by his candour when dealing with the stresses of his job.

Flanked by skills coach Ryan Girdler, injured hooker Luke Priddis and gear steward John Lawford - the latter in the unaccustomed role of statistician - Elliott rides the play and relays his instructions through the headset to his sideline assistants.

Some of it is pure football-speak - "bend … block … shoot 'A'!". But for the most part it's perfectly clear what he wants from his troops, such as when he says: "Here's a tip for 'T' [Tony Puletua], Brad [Tighe] and Lewie [Luke Lewis] - hit Sonny Bill's hips. Don't worry about the f---ing ball, focus on Sonny Bill's hips."

If there was a swear jar in the room the takings would exceed the salary cap. It's the most F-bombs detonated in the space of 80 minutes this side of Eddie Murphy's Delirious. But the best way to sum up his communication style is to say it's clear, concise and controlled.

However, when Adam Woolnough carts the ball forward without his usual zest, the coach is not impressed. "C'mon Woollie, for f---'s sake! Snoopy [assistant coach Wayne Collins] needs to put a rocket up him."

As the match progresses, Elliott can sense the former Knights prop is struggling for confidence after returning from a neck injury: "He's just not quite the same Woollie, his neck's ginger. He can carry the ball stronger than that."

Every now and then Elliott will see something that needs to be addressed at half-time and asks Lawford to jot down a reminder note. It could be a simple phrase like "fight on the ground" or "inside defence", or a prompter to admonish a player for a handling error.

Occasionally he'll clap a good carry or knock on his desk when a penalty inexplicably goes against his side.

When winger Luke Rooney crosses in the 14th minute to finish off a back-line set move, Elliott says: "It's good to see him get over the stripe. It's good for his confidence to score early in the season … that is as badly as you'll see it executed, by the way. It's just our middle-unit players … it's not unusual early on [in the season] for it not to be schmick."

Puletua - "that's a lot of human being" - crashes over seven minutes later to extend the lead to 12, but not everything Elliott sees impresses the former Dragons forward.

"Their speed compared to ours is massive … we've got to fight more on the ground … we haven't had an interchange of passes yet, not one."

The tide is turning against the Panthers. The Bulldogs gain control of the ruck and with it, the game, their combinations in defence as telling as those in attack. When Panthers lock Nathan Smith pulls off a bellringer of a tackle, he doesn't take full advantage - peeling off his man too quickly. "Get in there Smithy, get in there," Elliott says. "You've still got a bit more [time] in there. That's a learning thing."

Elliott is also liberal with his praise. He gives his forwards a rap for the strength of their carry. Young half Josh McCrone, who earns extra game time after Lewis dislocates his fingers, comes up with a nice play. Elliott wants to build the youngster's confidence.

"A big rap for Josh McCrone for giving us a wide play early … give him a rap mate, give him a rap. Go and tell him," he instructs his trainers.

Late in the game, McCrone learns a tough lesson in defence. "That's the one place you can't get beaten, Josh McCrone, if you defend on the wing," says Elliott, commentating as much as criticising.

In the second half the Panthers can't hang on to the football. "We haven't completed a set this half, that's why we're doing this [defence]," Elliott says in the 47th minute.

On the rare occasions the Panthers get the ball they are so bunched you could throw a picnic blanket over their backline. Make that a handkerchief. They need guidance and Elliott instructs Collins, acting as an on-field trainer, to make it happen.

"Can you tell Snoop to get out there and help them out," he says. "It's too late now … I need him to go out at the start of sets. 'Stick five' is the call - we just need to complete some sets."

To make matters worse, Michael Jennings bounces out of a collision, concussed. The coach is concerned. "That kid doesn't go down, I'll tell you that. That's hit him."

Most of the instructions are delivered relatively calmly. Your correspondent mischievously fantasises about the Bulldogs piling on a heap of points to see if Elliott will really vent his spleen. My prayers are answered as the home side crosses for four unanswered tries, sparked by a double from hooker Michael Sullivan.

How will Elliott react? Will the paint come off the walls? Will he get the hook out or have a coronary?

For the most part Elliott remains clear, concise and controlled. But there are times when he does his stack, most notably when his sideline assistants are slow to respond to his interchange requests.

"Now! Do it now! F--- me, HELLO! Are you talking to each other down there? Get him off NOW!"

And again after a more serious mix-up late in the game: "Can you get him off pleeeeeeease! Just go. We'll lose two points if he stays on there. We'll give those competition points away."

As well as monitoring his own charges, the former Canberra coach keeps a close eye on the opposition. When Reni Maitua enters the fray, he monitors the Test utility carefully. "Where's Maitua going?" he says. "He's worth keeping an eye on."

At times, however, Elliott realises he is powerless to stop what's unfolding and can only watch on when the opposition are just too good. Such as when Hazem El Masri kicks his umpteenth conversion from the sideline. "It's like shelling peas. He's not bad, is he?"

The game slips out of his grasp. The Bulldogs have too much ball, and control it too well. Late in the game Elliott is frustrated that Williams keeps defending out of the line. "Get Joey to play in the line!" he barks.

But it's too late. Even the other Joey - the greatest-ever player just on the other side of the glass - couldn't save them with the amount of ball the Panthers cough up.

The full-time buzzer sounds. Elliott takes off the headset and sums up the performance. "They have exploited our naivety. We'll learn a lot from that."

His final words as he leaves the box and heads down towards the dressing sheds? "Oh well, that's what trials are for."