With the Panthers still reeling from last week's upset loss to Newcastle, Simmons this week took to the training paddock for the first time this year and helped oversee some drills.

Simmons was part of the club's maiden premiership in 1991 and is currently working for the club as an ambassador.

He joined premiership-winning captain Greg Alexander and caretaker Cameron Ciraldo on the field as the Panthers continue to coach by committee after Anthony Griffin's axing.

"Yeah, Royce come out on the field yesterday just to do a few drills. It was good to have him and Brandy out there," assistant coach Peter Wallace told AAP on Wednesday.

"They're legends of the club.

"And Royce's coached first grade as a head coach. He's been assistant coach at the (Wests) Tigers under Tim Sheens, coached St Helens.

"He's got a wealth of knowledge and experience that he can pass onto the boys."

Simmons' contributions come in the same week Ciraldo made the biggest call of his young coaching career by making four changes to the side stumped by the Knights.

The Tyrone Peachey experiment is seemingly over, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returning to fullback and Christian Crichton getting a recall on the wing.

Ciraldo also handed rookie Wayde Egan his first start at hooker, in place of over Sione Katoa.

"It's just to change things up a little bit," Wallace said.

"He's been playing really well in reserve grade when he's been back there, done everything that's been asked of him. He's a good defender and he deserves his shot."

Skipper Isaah Yeo said Egan - who has been compared to Melbourne great Cameron Smith - would pose a different threat to Katoa, who has been dropped out of the 17.

"He's more of a runner and that's just what Cameron thought we needed at the moment," he said of Egan.

"He's pretty cluey around there. I'm sure he'll be tested out in defence for that 80 minutes and we'll see how he goes there.

"But I think he'll do a wonderful job."

Yeo insisted Ciraldo had the backing of the players as he puts his own stamp on the team.

"He came out of the press conference (last week) and said there's going to be changes because what we're doing isn't working," Yeo said.

"They're the changes he thought would help the side.

"We'll find out Friday night if that works or not. He obviously thought they needed to be made.

"We trust him and support him, he's got the full backing of the players."

Australian Associated Press