A profoundly relieved Nathan Cleary has publicly praised the legal acumen of his father Ivan, after the elder Cleary masterfully defended his son at the NRL judiciary, securing a crucial downgrade that clears the Penrith halfback to participate in the Panthers' season-opening match.
Father-Son Duo Secures Judiciary Triumph
The celebrated father-son partnership, already renowned for securing four premierships together, has now added a significant judiciary victory to their impressive resume. On Monday night, they collaborated effectively to successfully argue for a downgrade of Nathan's grade-two careless high tackle charge.
Facing Significant Suspension Risk
Nathan Cleary was confronting a two-match suspension for a high shot on Wests Tigers rookie Heamasi Makasini during a recent trial match. By choosing to contest the charge, he risked extending his potential ban by an additional week, a gamble that ultimately paid off thanks to his father's advocacy.
The incident occurred when Cleary rushed out of the defensive line and made contact as Makasini juggled the ball during Friday's trial game. In a strategic and inspired move, Ivan Cleary temporarily swapped his coaching responsibilities for legal counsel, presenting arguments to the judiciary panel consisting of Ryan James and Greg McCullum.
Swift Deliberation Signals Convincing Case
The panel's remarkably brief deliberation period of just twelve minutes before announcing Nathan Cleary's availability for round one served as a clear indicator of how compelling Ivan Cleary's presentation proved to be. This efficiency underscored the strength of the defense mounted by the Panthers coach.
'I definitely thank him because it's a big effort,' Nathan Cleary acknowledged regarding his father's intervention. 'I'm disappointed I had to put him through that little extra work that he had to do outside his normal job, but I'm grateful for his effort.'
The younger Cleary admitted he had no input in the decision for his father to represent him, but noted Ivan's confidence in approaching the task. 'There were mixed thoughts because the last few times he's been to the judiciary, it hasn't worked out too well,' Nathan revealed. 'But I trust him and we thought that we had a pretty good case. I'm glad the panel could see that.'
Panthers Break from Legal Tradition
In a departure from their usual practice of employing professional lawyers to defend players at judiciary hearings, the Penrith organization looked internally on this occasion with remarkably effective results. This strategic decision proved instrumental in achieving the favorable outcome.
Defensive Justification Presented
During the hearing, multiple replay angles of the incident were examined. Nathan Cleary articulated that his decision to rush up on Makasini was motivated primarily by self-preservation considerations. 'If I stand back and he gets momentum and I risk becoming a speedbump,' Cleary explained, emphasizing that his contact was shoulder-to-shoulder rather than high.
Surprisingly, NRL counsel Lachlan Gyles SC opted not to cross-examine the Penrith halfback during the proceedings. Gyles maintained that Cleary had escalated the risk in his tackle by approaching Makasini at considerable speed.
Father's Technical Analysis Proves Decisive
Ivan Cleary countered this argument by acknowledging his son had indeed sought to generate force in the tackle, but emphasized that Nathan had demonstrated appropriate duty of care by planting his feet in anticipation of the collision and ensuring the contact remained shoulder-to-shoulder.
Financial Penalty Replaces Suspension
The successful defense means Nathan Cleary avoids what could have been a three-game suspension entirely. Instead, he will incur a $1,800 fine and remains eligible to line up against the Brisbane Broncos when the Panthers commence their season on March 6.
Significant Boost for Penrith Campaign
Cleary's availability provides a substantial boost for Penrith as they prepare for their 2025 campaign. The Panthers experienced a sluggish start to the previous season, finding themselves at the bottom of the ladder after twelve rounds before mounting a remarkable recovery to secure a top-eight position.
Their 2024 campaign concluded with a preliminary final defeat to eventual premiers Brisbane, ending their extraordinary run of four consecutive premierships. With their star halfback now cleared for round one, the Panthers can approach their season opener with renewed confidence and their key playmaker available for selection.
