Nathan Cleary Dally M Medal boost as NRL rules on TikTok suspension
There’s been a major development in the 2020 Dally M Medal race with the NRL officially making a call on Nathan Cleary’s docked points in relation to the infamous TikTok incident. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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The NRL has controversially ruled Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary will keep all his Dally M points this year despite breaching COVID-19 protocols, lying about it and being suspended and fined.
Players banned over foul play are automatically docked three points for every game they miss but NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said that would not affect Cleary because his indiscretion was an off-field issue.
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Abdo has confirmed all of Cleary’s Dally M points will stand, ensuring the 22-year-old superstar is now an odds on favourite to win the game’s most prestigious individual award in grand final week.
The NRL points out the same rule applied to Broncos star Payne Haas who was named Dally M front-rower of the year last season, despite being suspended for the opening four rounds for refusing to co-operate in an integrity unit investigation.
Cleary described his own actions as “irresponsible, selfish and stupid” after he was fined $30,000 and suspended for two games when TikTok footage emerged of him and teammate Tyrone May dancing with female friends and breaking the state’s strict lockdown laws.
He was also fined $1000 by police.
Cleary had previously denied any wrongdoing.
The reprieve for Cleary is a direct contradiction of an NRL statement earlier this year.
In August when asked about the Cleary case a spokesman said: “Players who are suspended throughout the season are deducted three Dally M Medal points for each week they are out of play.”
This incorrect information came from Frank Puletua, the NRL’s manager of major awards.
Puletua has since admitted to getting it wrong.
On Monday afternoon an NRL spokesman this time said: “Consistent with previous seasons, players will only be deducted Dally M points for on-field suspensions handed down by the Match Review Committee or Judiciary.”
In a News Corp poll earlier in the season, 75 per cent of fans agreed Cleary should be deducted points.
Cleary was already the favourite to win the Dally M award, even allowing for the likelihood of him being stripped six points.
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The AFL has the same rule for the Brownlow Medal. Players can be ruled ineligible for the award only for on-field foul play that leads to a suspension or a doping violation.
Cleary has been a standout star in the NRL to steer the Panthers to the minor premiership.
His main opposition for the award will come from Luke Keary, Cameron Smith, James Tedesco and Clint Gutherson.
CLEARY & FLANNO: FROM BALLBOYS TO MAIN MEN
Nathan Cleary and Kyle Flanagan go back 15 years.
When they meet at the scrum base in Friday night’s Panthers-Roosters blockbuster it will a flashback to 2005 when their dads were on Ricky Stuart’s coaching staff at the Sydney Roosters.
They were like any starry eyed seven-year-olds with big dreams.
Stuart, now in charge of the Canberra Raiders, can clearly remember the two youngsters hanging around training, the dressing sheds and working as ball boys.
Their dads Ivan Cleary coached reserve grade and Shane Flanagan was an assistant skills coach.
Their sons are now both 22 preparing the blockbuster game of the year.
“Kyle and Nathan always had a football in their hands,” Stuart said.
“All the great halves went to bed with a football and that’s what Nathan and Kyle were like.
“They loved their football and it’s no surprise where they are today because they grew up on rugby league.”
Panthers star Cleary was shown the photo at training on Monday.
“It’s pretty crazy looking back on it,” he said, “I don’t really remember anything from back then.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen that photo. I don’t really remember what Kyle was like when we were kids but we got to play together for NSW combined catholic colleges in 2015.
“It’ll be cool coming up against him again. It’s always good fun coming up against people you know.
“It’s a great challenge for us as a group facing a world class team like the Roosters, who have been there and done that in finals. But it’s a challenge we’re all looking forward to.”
Cleary and Flanagan would share ball-boy duties back in 2005 with John Cartwright’s son Jed and Phil Gould’s son Jack at the Roosters. Gus was coaching director and Cartwright an assistant to Stuart.
“There was a roster and two of us would be on each game,” Flanagan recalls, “One would run the ball out for the first half and the other would do it for the second.
“I remember I got to run the ball out for Brad Fittler’s 300th game which was pretty cool.”
The pair last played against each other in round one of the competition.
On Friday night the stakes are much higher.
“It’s exciting to be playing footy at this time of the year, and my focus is on prepping as well as I can to do my job for the team,” Flanagan said.
Originally published as Nathan Cleary Dally M Medal boost as NRL rules on TikTok suspension
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