Nathan Cleary Faces Potential Ban After Incident in NRL Finals Match
Sydney, Australia – Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is facing potential disciplinary action following an incident during his team’s qualifying final against the Brisbane Broncos, which saw him make contact with Broncos player Ezra Mam’s face with a closed fist. The incident, occurring during a play where Cleary was slightly late hitting Mam while kicking the ball, has sparked debate over whether it warrants a suspension that could rule him out of a potential grand final appearance.
While described as not a “customary ‘punch'” and lacking significant force, the contact has drawn scrutiny due to the NRL’s strict stance against striking. The league has effectively outlawed punching for the past decade, typically resulting in an automatic sin-bin.Though Cleary was not sin-binned during the match, any suspension handed down by the NRL could have significant ramifications, potentially impacting his availability for the Kangaroos and the end-of-season Ashes tour.
The incident occurred as Mam was kicking the ball, and Cleary’s contact with his face was captured on camera.Match officials deemed the contact insufficient for an immediate sin-bin, but the NRL’s match review committee will assess the footage and determine if further action is required.
Adding to the concerns for the Panthers, teammate liam Martin is also likely to be reviewed for a separate incident where he appeared to strike Mam in the head after the initial play. Martin has already announced his unavailability for the Ashes tour due to his wife’s impending childbirth.
The match review committee’s findings are expected within the next 24-48 hours, and any suspension for Cleary would be a major blow to Penrith’s premiership aspirations. The incident underscores the NRL’s zero-tolerance policy on striking and highlights the potential consequences for players involved in such incidents during the high-stakes finals series.
