Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary avoided what could have been a significant suspension following his involvement in a contentious incident during Sunday’s 19-12 qualifying final win over the Sydney Roosters. Cleary was charged with a grade-one dangerous contact offence for striking Roosters five-eighth Hugo Savala in a collision late in the match but will not face suspension after entering an early guilty plea. Instead, he was fined $1,000.
The charge stemmed from Cleary making contact with Savala’s leg while attempting a charge down. The NRL match review committee’s decision to classify the offence as grade one, rather than grade two as some rival clubs anticipated, means Cleary remains eligible for the Penrith preliminary final. Had he received a grade-two charge, he would have been suspended, likely ruling him out of the finals for the remainder of the season.
Despite escaping suspension, new concerns have emerged surrounding Cleary’s fitness. Following the match, Penrith revealed that scans confirmed Cleary has sustained a stress-related bone injury in his right foot. The condition reportedly developed gradually over the course of the game rather than from a specific incident. Although no timeframe has been provided for his return to full fitness, the Panthers said he will continue to be closely monitored by their medical staff.
Cleary’s injury status remains uncertain ahead of the preliminary final, which Penrith will play after earning a week’s rest thanks to their win at CommBank Stadium. He reportedly experienced significant pain post-match, even declining to take the game’s final conversion kick.
NRL physiotherapist Brien Seeney expressed cautious optimism regarding Cleary’s availability for the next game. He noted that the injury appeared to result from cumulative strain rather than a single impact and suggested Penrith has the experience and willingness to manage players with similar injuries through the finals. Seeney referenced previous instances where players competed despite significant foot injuries and predicted Cleary would likely feature, at least in some capacity, in the upcoming match.
The incident involving Cleary and Savala garnered substantial attention, with referee Gerard Sutton cautioning the Panthers captain at the time for the dangerous nature of the contact. Sutton noted the force involved and the potential risk of injury. Despite this, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, Nathan’s father, argued strongly against any suspension following the game, emphasizing that a ban was unwarranted.
An additional angle to the case involves the fortunate outcome for Savala, whose leg absorbed the contact without severe injury. Observers noted that had Savala suffered a significant injury, the match review committee might have escalated the charge against Cleary, potentially resulting in a suspension. The incident drew parallels to a previous on-field injury sustained by Lachlan Ilias in a NSW Cup match, where a dangerous tackle caused a severe leg fracture and a lengthy absence.
As it stands, Cleary’s availability for Penrith’s finals campaign remains under close supervision, balancing the risk of aggravating his injury against the club’s pursuit of a premiership.