‘Fairly obvious’: Ivan Cleary takes aim after ‘no-brainer’ sin bin missed

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has fired a shot at match officials for failing to send Mat Feagai from the field for his late shot on Daine Laurie which ended the Penrith fullback’s afternoon.

Anthony Brand

2 min read

July 28, 2024 - 7:22PM

Penrith's Ivan Cleary in his post-game presser.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has fired a shot at match officials for failing to sin bin Mat Feagai for his late shot on Daine Laurie which ended the Penrith fullback’s afternoon.

The hit saw Laurie taken from the field in the 20th-minute after medicos ruled he had suffered a Category One HIA.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Dragons fullback Feagai was later also ruled out following the collision after being deemed to be showing Category Two HIA symptoms, but that didn’t stop Cleary losing a vital interchange and also getting access to his 18th-man.

Both would have been granted had the Dragons No.1 been sent from the field for foul play.

“It was a bit of a confusing one that one it seemed like it was fairly obvious and there was something wrong there,” Cleary said following the Panthers’ 46-10 flogging of the Dragons.

“He (Laurie) is not too bad but obviously he failed (the HIA), so.”

Cleary said he expected officials to admit their error and concede Feagai should have been binned for the hit.

“Yeah that’s a no-brainer (Feagai should have been binned),” he said.

“I certainly don’t think he meant it or anything but in that situation we’ve seen enough this year – I am sure they’ll be saying that it should have been (a sin bin).

“I noticed it in the Manly game too, it’s difficult.

“We lost two guys today to illegal play but it’s the other ones they get punished for.”

Ivan Cleary wasn’t happy. Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Laurie was ruled out of the match. Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Cleary’s critical assessment follows Manly coach Anthony Seibold’s takedown of officials after two of his players failed HIAs in their 34-30 loss to the Roosters on Saturday night.

The Sea Eagles lost two players in two minutes to HIAs with Seibold having an issue with both and claiming Michael Jennings should have been binned for his high shot on Jason Saab.

Jennings was later slapped with a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle charge in a sign Seibold was likely right.

Jennings will miss two games with an early plea and three if he contests the charge and loses.

Cleary said he was unsure who will replace Laurie in next Sunday’s match against Newcastle, with HIA protocols set to sideline his fullback for a minimum of 11 days.

“I don’t know we’ve got some players in there so yeah it’s another one,” Cleary said.

“That’s the sort of season we’re having and everyone else is having a well.”

Meanwhile, Cleary could not give a definitive answer on how bad James Fisher-Harris’ adductor injury was after the prop left the field early in the first half.

“I think it’s an adductor but not sure how bad it was,” Cleary said.