The Nathan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers will face the NRL judiciary on Monday night as the club contests the grading of his careless high tackle charge.
Cleary was sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Heamasi Makasini during Thursday night’s pre-season clash against the Wests Tigers.
The star half was charged for the offense with a three-match suspension for the incident, or two-week suspension with an early guilty plea.
In a move few saw coming, Cleary could avoid missing the season opener altogether if the Panthers are successful in their challenge.
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It is a bold move by the Panthers, because if unsuccessful, Cleary will serve the full three-match ban, potentially forcing Penrith to turn to Jack Cogger for the opening three rounds.
Concerns had emerged that a suspension might affect Cleary’s eligibility for a maiden Dally M Medal in 2026, but the NRL confirmed the pre-season incident will not impact his award eligibility.
The tackle occurred with three minutes left in the first half as Cleary collected Makasini with his shoulder while the winger juggled the ball, a moment that overshadowed his earlier set-up of Penrith’s opening try.
The NRL match review committee subsequently graded the tackle as a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge.
The Panthers are under pressure to have Cleary available to open the season, with a brutal early draw that includes matches against the Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, and Sydney Roosters.
Losing their star half for multiple rounds would add to Penrith’s challenges, and with the club having experienced a slow start to their 2025 campaign, it is something they will be keen to avoid in the opening rounds.
The judiciary outcome will determine whether Cleary will be fit to lead the Panthers against the Broncos on March 6 or if the club must plan without their playmaker for an extended stretch.
The result will very likely dictate how well the Panthers can start the 2026 NRL season, with the possibility of three straight losses if they are forced to begin the campaign without Cleary.
