Anthony Griffin erupts at Nathan Cleary shoulder charge that wasn’t

Nathan Cleary made his hotly anticipated return from a shoulder injury to guide Penrith to victory over a disappointing Dragons outfit.

The Panthers recovered from a sloppy first half to record a big win at Suncorp Stadium. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Nathan Cleary picked up exactly where he left off to come through unscathed on his return from a shoulder injury but Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has blown up about what he said was a Cleary shoulder charge on Jack Bird.

Penrith’s 34-16 win over a wasteful Dragons was notable for the single fact that Cleary is back and his shoulder held up to punishing collisions with aplomb to remind everyone how pivotal he is to the Panthers premiership hopes.

Griffin said Cleary’s hit on Bird, which jolted the ball free and led to a try to Matt Burton in the second half, should not have been allowed.

“That was a clear cut shoulder charge, the one they brought the rule in for where you don’t use your arms,” Griffin fumed.

“I don’t know how they cleared that. It was a massive play.

“That’s a try-scoring bit of vision that they can go back and watch, so I don’t know how they clear that. It’s a massive play, it’s six points against the run of play and that sort of unfortunately our night.

“The biggest disappointment for me, and for my players and the club, is how that try gets allowed.

“I want to know why that’s not a shoulder charge.”

Cleary said that he was cleared by the referee and the bunker of any indiscretion.

“I definitely didn’t try and shoulder charge. I saw him kind of pick me out from the kick chase and knew that I was going to have to put my body on the line,” Cleary said.

“There was someone next to me so I tried to lift my arm but I couldn’t really get it all the way across, so I don’t think it was a shoulder charge.

“Andrew McCullough asked the ref at the time and they said it was cleared.”

For the Dragons it was both another nail in the coffin of their finals hopes and they lost hooker Andrew McCullough to an ankle injury.

Cleary, who was given an early mark five minutes from time, has not lost any of the NRL or Origin games that he has played this year such is his value to any side he plays in. When he suffered a labrum tear in his right shoulder in NSW’s 28-0 win over the Maroons in Game Two of the State of Origin series, the Panthers drew a collective deep breath and just hoped he would return to steer their quest for title glory.

The first hurdle is out of the way.

Cleary last played in the second game of the State of Origin series. (Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“The shoulder is really good. Early on they were targeting me and I made a few tackles early on and that gave me plenty of confidence,” Cleary said.

“From there I was in the game and not thinking about the shoulder. In terms of performance it was certainly rusty and there are a few things to work on.

“I will continue to strengthen it but it does feel good. That is why I played. I was never rushing back but it felt good so there was no point waiting. We are at the point where we need a lift and to start playing better. That was evident tonight where there were too many errors.”

The Panthers were under siege early but Brent Naden intercepted a Corey Norman pass to get them going.

When Norman threw another dud pass the Panthers made them pay with Naden and Dylan Edwards both crossing to give Penrith a 16-6 half-time lead.

Edwards was sensational at fullback and when he scored early in the second half the Panthers put the foot down with Jarome Luai and Brent Naden cutting loose.

Cleary watch

All eyes were on Cleary and how his shoulder would hold up to the defensive load and contact in particular. An early bone rattler on a rampaging Billy Burns would have removed any self doubt and by halftime he’d made 12 tackles with none missed. He kicked mostly with precision, returned to his general ways and unlocked the attacking potency of his halves partner Jarome Luai who was a major threat on the left edge.

Naden’s first-half double helped the Panthers to a ten-point halftime lead. (Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Dire Dragons

The Dragons have been gone nowhere since BBQ-gate and their finals hopes are on life support. Stuck on 18 competition points, they must win all three of their remaining games and hope for other results to go their way. With Ben Hunt injured, the Dragons must recall fullback Matt Dufty. Dufty’s creativity is missed and Jack Bird, who was still one of the Dragons’ best at fullback, should be slotted back into the centres to get their attack firing. Teenager Talatau Amone came on to spark the Dragons and is a great halves prospect for the club.