Star playmaker Nathan Cleary will go into Penrith’s finals campaign cold after being handed a five-game ban for his spear tackle on Parramatta’s Dylan Brown.
Cleary was sent off for the first time in his career in Friday’s 34-10 loss to the Eels and will not play again during the regular season. He was handed a third-degree dangerous tackle charge by the NRL’s match review committee on Saturday morning.
The Panthers prop wrapped one arm around Brown’s waist and the other around his leg as he lifted him up and knocked him to the ground, prompting the NSW star to come out of the game in the 17th minute, with his side 12-4.
“The hands are between the legs, you knocked him down, you’re out,” referee Todd Smith said as he pointed to the covers.
Cleary, 24, appeared devastated immediately after the incident, repeatedly punching his forehead after being sent off the field.
Legendary halfback Johnathan Thurston described the incident as “uncharacteristic” of the Panthers co-captain. “I don’t see him as a dirty player, but he has his hand in that position on his groin. He picked it up and threw it straight to the ground,” the Cowboys big man told Nine’s coverage.
“He could have even more trouble because he rearranged his right arm. He has his arm around his back and then rearranges it and puts it between (Brown’s) legs.
Manly’s Karl Lawton was handed a four-week ban in May after pleading guilty early to a charge of third-degree dangerous pitching in Round 8. However, the tackle on Brown is the second charge of Cleary for the season after being fined $1,000 for dangerous contact. offense in Round 6 against the Broncos, meaning the NSW center is staring down the barrel of a five-match ban.
If he takes the early guilty plea, a course of action that is likely for the Panthers, who are already without five-eighth Jarome Luai for the next month due to a knee injury, would be back in the first week of the finals.
Cleary will miss Penrith’s remaining five regular-season games against Canberra, Melbourne, South Sydney, the Warriors and North Queensland as they aim to end the minor premiership, defend their 2021 title and challenge for a third consecutive decider.
In the unlikely event that he fights the charge and then loses in court, Cleary will miss six games.
Fortunately for both Cleary and Brown, the Parramatta five-eighth was not seriously injured after being thrown to the ground at CommBank Stadium head first. Brown said he was surprised by the collision but did not believe there was any malice or intent on Cleary’s part.
Cleary, whose hopes of winning the Dally M medal are now over, expressed deep regret on Friday night.
“Mass apologies for tonight (Friday),” he posted on Instagram. “(I’m) dirty with myself for such a stupid moment that let the guys down and the fans down. I’m not for it, it was a terrible technique and I need to be better.”
With Luai and Cleary sidelined, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary will be forced to lean heavily on Sean O’Sullivan, Kurt Falls and Jaeman Salmon over the next five weeks.
The half-back lost control of Brown while involved in a tackle with Liam Martin and James Fisher-Harris in the 17th minute of Friday’s game. It left referee Todd Smith with no choice but to eject the point guard. Cleary became the first Panthers player to be dismissed in an NRL game since Travis Burns in 2012.
“I think all the guys know that if they’ve been in that position they’d feel the same way,” said father and coach Ivan. “I don’t think he wanted to do it. He’s done a good job for our team over the years. I know Nat pretty well and that will fuel his fire going forward.