‘Outrageous’: NRL star’s deceitful act exposed

Nathan Cleary has been cleared for his dangerous tackle but NRL fans outed the Penrith star for stealing an unfair advantage.

Eagle-eyed rugby fans have spotted a Nathan Cleary misdemeanour during Penrith’s nailbiting victory over the Melbourne Storm in Saturday afternoon’s Preliminary Final.

The Panthers toppled the reigning champions 10-6 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to book their spot in a second consecutive NRL Grand Final.

Penrith will face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at the same venue next weekend in search of their first premiership since 2003.

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But some viewers noticed a minor indiscretion early in the second half of Saturday’s victory that could have given the Panthers a slight advantage.

In the 42nd minute, Panthers winger Brian To’o scored near the left corner post to extend Penrith’s lead to 10 points. However, Cleary attempted the following conversion kick approximately 10 metres in from the touchline – nowhere near the vicinity of To’o’s try.

The 23-year-old missed the conversion attempt regardless, his wayward kick flying wide of the sticks.

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said: “This is a little in.

“To’o put the ball down a metre in from touch. I thought Nathan might have crept in a little closer with the shot.”

This is outrageous https://t.co/WUzXWra3gb

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) September 25, 2021

Earlier in the match, Cleary was put on report for dangerously lifting Melbourne forward Kenny Bromwich in a two-man tackle with Paul Momirovski.

“You can’t miss a Grand Final for that,” Cronulla premiership player Michael Ennis said on Fox League’s commentary.

Voss continued: “That is a dangerous tackle, this is drama.

“A dangerous tackle has up-ended Kenny Bromwich. That is one absolutely on report and one for the match review committee.”

However, the NRL confirmed on Sunday morning Cleary had not been charged for the incident and he would be free to play in next weekend’s season finale.

No charge for Nathan Cleary. Interesting one with James Fisher-Harris pinged for dangerous contact on Felise Kaufusi in a tackle that forced an error late in first half. No penalty given.

Anyway Fisher-Harris can escape with a fine, as can Stephen Crichton for throwing a shoe.

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) September 26, 2021

Coming off an extra week’s break and virtually at full strength, Melbourne was supposed to cruise past the Panthers, who have been criticised for lacking cohesion with the ball in recent weeks.

Both sides left the script at home, though — Penrith rediscovered their mojo and Melbourne turned in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.

In a sign of things to come, the Storm lost Brandon Smith and Christian Welch early and without two of their most damaging middle forwards, were unable to penetrate the Panthers’ defensive wall.

A late try to Ryan Papenhuyzen put the Storm back in the contest, but with a 69 per cent completion rate and 16 errors to their name, the Melburnians simply played themselves out of the game.

“We got what we deserved tonight,” Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy said after the loss. “We dropped a couple of really good opportunities, dropping balls. The Panthers really scrambled there a couple of times to save a couple of tries.

“We didn’t have a whole heap going for us but at the end of the day we got what we deserved and the Panthers got what they deserved.”

With Jasper Bruce, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Outrageous’: NRL star’s deceitful act exposed