Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has taken a cheeky dig at the NRL after getting his son off a two-game ban at the NRL judiciary last week. Nathan Cleary was slapped with a Grade 2 charge after his hit on Wests Tigers rookie Heamasi Makasini during the trials.
And in an incredible move, coach and father Ivan Cleary represented Nathan at the NRL judiciary in a short appearance that stunned NRL fans. If they had lost, Cleary was facing his ban to move up to three weeks. Although it didn’t take long for them to successfully get the charge downgraded to Grade 1 last Monday night, and the suspension was turned into an $1800 fine instead.
And Penrith’s coach has taken a cheeky swipe at the decision to hand Penrith’s halfback a two-game ban in the first place. Speaking ahead of their clash against the Broncos on Friday, Cleary claimed the two of them shouldn’t have been there.
Very relieving,” the coach said. “It was a disappointing thing to go through, actually, it was quite a big thing: either no weeks or three weeks for something that was pretty clearly grade one.”
But he then admitted it shouldn’t have resulted in the two having to take the gamble with the suspension with images proving their case. “It was just one for that occasion. I don’t think a lawyer needed to be able to show a couple of still shots and a video to show that it actually didn’t happen,” he said.
“Maybe the NRL need to update their TVs or something for the match review committee. I’d rather be giving (lawyer duties) to someone else, or we’re not in there. That’d be better.”
Cleary felt the NRL match review committee needs to take into account players haven’t taken to the field in months during trials and a more lenient view could be taken. And because side’s have struggled to overturn player suspensions at the NRL judiciary in recent years, Cleary feels teams are not confident in fighting a charge even if they think they might win.
Broncos host Penrith Panthers in round one
Cleary is now free to play the Brisbane Broncos in this week’s blockbuster clash. The reigning champions are coming off a loss to Hull KR in the World Club Challenge. The Broncos will be looking to bounce back from the shock defeat with a win in the opening round against the Panthers.
Cleary’s men will be looking for redemption after being eliminated by the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL finals last year. Cleary’s showdown with Reece Walsh will be one of the biggest talking points of the round.
