NRL Grand Final: Referees respond to claims Panthers use illegal tactics to protect Nathan Cleary

The NRL have responded to claims the Penrith Panthers are using illegal tactics to protect champion halfback Nathan Cleary, writes Paul Crawley.

The NRL have responded to claims the Panthers use illegal tactics to protect Nathan Cleary.

A grand final refereeing controversy has exploded after NRL referees boss Jared Maxwell all but conceded the Penrith Panthers are getting away with illegal tactics to protect superstar playmaker Nathan Cleary.

It comes in the wake of vision exposed by this masthead that clearly showed Panthers forwards Isaah Yeo and Moses Leota intentionally moving in the defensive line to block Melbourne Storm chasers during the preliminary final.

The rule states that while blockers are allowed to stand their ground behind the ruck, they can’t intentionally move in the path of opposition players as the Panthers clearly did.

The question now is whether grand final referee Adam Gee will react to the revelation and crack down on the tactics if it continues in Sunday night’s grand final against the Brisbane Broncos.

The NRL have responded to claims the Panthers use illegal tactics to protect Nathan Cleary.

Gee was of course in charge of the preliminary final between the Panthers and the Storm.

The Panthers have an extraordinary strike rate when Gee is holding the whistle, having lost only one game in the past four years under his control.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley spoke with Maxwell when contacted on Wednesday, but Maxwell was very deliberate with his reply, obviously attempting to avoid this becoming a major pre-match blow up.

He would not specifically make comment about the Panthers’ tactics, but his response left no doubt that the Panthers were blatantly breaking the rules.

“The rules are very specific that players who are not in possession of the ball cannot deliberately be obstructed,” Maxwell said.

“Of course, players are not required to move out of the way of defenders, but equally they cannot deliberately move into the path of defenders.

“Referees are required to assess the impact of any possible interference in all aspects of play, and rule accordingly.”

It could potentially have a huge impact on the grand final if the Broncos are prevented from placing legal kick pressure on the champion halfback.

While Cleary is rightfully regarded the standout No 7 in the game, on the rare occasions he has failed to play at his best has often been when teams have been able to cut down his time and put pressure on him.

Queensland has done it successfully in State of Origins in the past, and that was obviously the tactic the Storm went out and attempted to re-enact.

It was also the same issue that became a huge talking point back in 2021 when Ivan Cleary and Wayne Bennett were involved in a war of words during the build up to the finals series when the then South Sydney coach contacted Maxwell to seek clarity.

Cleary then accused Bennett of attempting to influence the referees.

The stoush initially worked in the Rabbitohs’ favour when they beat the Panthers 16-10 in the first week of the finals, before going down 14-12 in the grand final.

If the Broncos are to have any hope of stopping the Panthers’ charge to a premiership three-peat they need to do all they can to contain Cleary.

Originally published as NRL Grand Final: Referees respond to claims Panthers use illegal tactics to protect Nathan Cleary