NRL set to drop sanction on Panthers over ‘balls-up’ blunder

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has admitted his team’s sideline blunder was a complete “balls-up” as the NRL prepares to punish the club.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has conceded an interchange error that briefly led to the Panthers having 14 players on the field during their much-needed 40-12 win against the Sydney Roosters was a “balls-up”.

The four-time reigning premiers snapped their five-game losing streak with a performance more akin to their former selves at Allianz Stadium as Nathan Cleary broke Ryan Girdler’s record to become the club’s highest ever point-scorer.

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But it was the interchange mistake that was one of the biggest talking points to emerge from a night where the Panthers sent a warning to the rest of the competition that they are not done yet.

The incident will likely lead to a fine from the NRL after the South Sydney Rabbitohs were fined for the same error against the Brisbane Broncos in 2023.

Ivan Cleary's face said it all. Photo: Fox Sports.

The Panthers momentarily had 14 on the field in the 32nd minute when Scott Sorensen dislocated his finger and came close to the sideline to have it put back in place by medical staff.

He did not come from the field however, and clearly thinking Sorensen had, substitute Izack Tago came on but quickly realised the mistake and immediately returned to the sidelines.

The Panthers bench was on the opposite side of the field.

It had no direct impact on the play but resulted in the Panthers being penalised via two docked interchange cards.

“It was a mistake,” Ivan Cleary said.

“‘Soz’ had a dislocated finger, and we thought it must have been broken. He ran to the sideline and Izack, who has never been on the bench before, I don’t think he really knew what to do, so he didn’t give his card to someone.

“It was the old trick; ‘I’ve just got to go on, so I’ll throw it on the ground.’

“It was a rookie error; he’d actually never been on the bench in his life. To be honest with you, I’d never really thought of that.

“It was a balls-up. It cost us two interchanges. We paid for it.”

The NRL could dock competition points from the Panthers as a result, but that appears unlikely as play was not impacted by the error.

Originally published as NRL set to drop sanction on Panthers over ‘balls-up’ blunder