NRL hands down Cleary charge after superstar’s sin bin
Nathan Cleary will be able to play next week’s NRL preliminary final after escaping suspension for a dangerous contact charge.
The Penrith co-captain has been hit with a grade one charge for taking out the legs of Roosters kicker Hugo Savala on Sunday.
Nathan Cleary is sin binned. Nine
Cleary can pay a $1000 fine and be available to lead the Panthers out next week, after they enjoy a week off for beating the Roosters in their qualifying final.
Post-match, Cleary described the contact as a “stupid decision” when speaking to Fox League.
With seconds left in the first half, Cleary had a rush of blood and tried to charge down a kick from Savala.
The Panthers star missed the ball, but his body contacted the leg of Savala which led to a penalty and sin bin.
Cleary said he felt “a lot of guilt” while in the sin bin, even though the Roosters failed to capitalise.
“I felt like I let the boys down, I saw an opportunity to come up with a big play right on half time and it ended up being the opposite. Stupid decision by me,” he said.
The halfback put his stamp on the match when he kicked a field goal in the 70th minute before the Panthers seal it with a Brian To’o try.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was asked about the sin bin in his post-match press conference. He admitted his son had managed to get the angle wrong.
“He was just trying to make a play and thinking the right thing there, but the angle was wrong and under the current rules that’s (illegal). It is what it is,” he said.
Cleary did add he thought a similar incident happened to Nathan earlier in the match.
“I must say, the same thing happened to him down near the goal posts ... anyway,” he smiled.
The Panthers coach also fired back saying “god no” when asked if he was worried about a suspension.
As for Nathan’s injury, Ivan said “there’s something wrong”, but there hadn’t yet been proper medical attention given to it.
The Roosters will now play the Sharks next Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
