Panthers star Brent Naden 'definitely affected' by racial abuse says Ivan Cleary as Andrew Johns calls for life ban
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has revealed winger Brent Naden was "affected" by racial abuse hurled at him racially abused during Friday night's win over the Warriors.
Naden, who's of Indigenous heritage, was the target of racial attacks when around 10 men, some seen wearing Warriors supporters gear, were kicked out of the ground for allegedly abusing the Panthers star.
Naden reported the incident to a sideline official before NSW police stepped in and escorted the men out of the venue.
Cleary after the match confirmed his winger was doing "OK" despite being shaken up in the heat of the moment.
The men allegedly hurled racial insults. FOX Sports
"Brent's OK. He said it's not the first time he's heard that in his life, but not in this forum [at a stadium]," Cleary said after the match.
"He took offence to it at the time, but he's OK now.
"I think it happened more than once. I don't really know the exact details and there'll need to be some sort of investigation after that our main objective is making sure Brent is all right.
"He's OK, it definitely affected him, he said he was surprised that he was affected by it.
"I don't know what that means, or whether it was something more than he's had before."
Rugby league legend Andrew Johns said he hopes the men will be banned from attending future NRL games for life if found guilty.
Brent Naden was taken aback by the abuse. Getty
The Newcastle Knights legend touched on the career of former Sydney Swans and AFL legend Adam Goodes who was the target of a number of racist attacks in the back end of his career.
"It's not acceptable," Johns told Nine.
"You saw in the AFL what it had done to Adam Goodes, it destroyed Adam Goodes.
"It's not acceptable. We don't want these sorts of people in the NRL.
"If they're found guilty, they should be banned for life."
