NRL 2021: Nathan Cleary cleared of shoulder charge on Jack Bird

Some say it’s another example of the Panthers getting preferential treatment, but one independent expert on rules believes the right decision was made not to ban Nathan Cleary.

Nathan Cleary had come under scrutiny after collecting Dragons fullback Jack Bird.

One of the NRL’s most respected independent experts on rules has backed the under fire match review committee’s decision not to ban Nathan Cleary for his controversial tackle on St George Illawarra’s Jack Bird.

Former referees boss and match review chairman Greg McCallum says while Cleary’s tackle was “technically” a shoulder charge, McCallum was adamant it was not worthy of a suspension.

Yet the incident has divided many in the game with talk among a growing number in club land that it’s just another example of the Panthers getting preferential treatment.

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Nathan Cleary had come under scrutiny after collecting Dragons fullback Jack Bird.

Only last week there was another blow up when Viliame Kikau escaped a crusher tackle ban while the Roosters’ Angus Crichton was rubbed out for a very similar incident.

Cleary also escaped punishment for another similar shoulder charge-type tackle on the Roosters’ Joey Manu back in June.

On that occasion Trent Robinson was convinced at the time it was a shoulder charge after it forced Manu off for a head injury assessment.

But while McCallum says he is concerned that the entire judicial process has become “a lottery”, he also reminded everyone why the shoulder charge was originally outlawed in 2012.

“The intention was to stop people being hit in the head,” McCallum said.

“By Nathan’s body position, people are saying that was a shoulder charge.

“Technically that is correct.

“But was there contact with the head? No.

“Was there a ricochet, a wobbling of the head? No.

“All that happened was he collided with the ball and the ball popped out.”

Peter V'landys has promised the entire judiciary process will be reviewed in the off season.

McCallum’s verdict comes after MRC chairman Michael Robertson also defended the decision, saying Cleary was “bracing for contact” and that it did not bring an unacceptable risk of injury.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley said on Sunday that he wanted to view different angles and also previous instances before giving his opinion.

“I have been informed there has been a multitude of similar incidents the MRC has reviewed this year, involving different players and clubs, also not charged,” Annesley said.

“I want to look at those from a consistency perspective before passing judgment.”

But McCallum was convinced Cleary’s tackle wasn’t dangerous: “In my view I don’t think that is what we are trying to stop.

“We are not trying to stop collisions.

“We are trying to stop hits to the head.

“I just think they go too far down the one track and they are getting themselves wound up and confused.

“I think that is what they are having trouble with in a whole lot of issues at the moment.

Cleary made his return from a serious shoulder injury against the Dragons.

“Every second tackle is put on report now because there is some contact to the head.

“That is not what it is about.”

McCallum also reckons Victor Radley has been hard done by for his charge down on Brisbane’s Albert Kelly that has the Roosters’ star lock facing a three-to-four-week ban.

“I don’t think what (Radley) did was particularly wrong,” McCallum added.

“I thought he executed a charge down.

“He certainly executed it with some degree of force.

“He certainly went for the ball.

“But they have taken it that he has used force to hit him in the legs.

“I would probably argue that he attempted to charge the ball down.

Greg McCallum thinks Victor Radley was hard done by.

“If I was defending Radley I’d be saying that he is fully stretched out in a charge down attempt.

“The tolerance at the moment is that he will get charged for it because there is no tolerance for leeway.”

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has promised that the game will review the entire process in the off season.

McCallum conceded right at this minute the frustration among players, coaches, experts and fans is understandable.

“You can’t predict what is going to happen,” he said.

“The system can only remain strong if people can see, a, some consistency and, b, some predictability.

“You can’t be guessing all the time and I’m afraid that is what is happening.”

Match report: Cleary’s ‘massive’ play that left Dragons coach fuming

By Joel Gould

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.”

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

Nathan Cleary was strong for the Panthers on his return from injury. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“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.

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

“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.

Dylan Edwards got on the scoreboard for the Panthers. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“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 half-time 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.

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.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Nathan Cleary cleared of shoulder charge on Jack Bird