Penrith Panthers head to the NRL judiciary to contest Nathan Cleary’s grade two careless high tackle charge, aiming to downgrade it and field their star playmaker in the season-opening blockbuster.
The Tackling Incident
Cleary faces a grade two charge from his 38th-minute tackle on Wests Tigers winger Heamasi Makasini during the Panthers’ 26-12 loss at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night. The champion halfback pleaded guilty, but the club presents evidence for a reduction to grade one at Monday night’s hearing.
The Panthers emphasize that Makasini slips slightly in the tackle and Cleary stays grounded, despite the sin-binning.
High Stakes for Round One
Success clears Cleary for the March 6 clash against Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Failure extends his suspension to three matches, sidelining him against Cronulla in Bathurst (round two) and Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium (round three).
Push for a Strong Start
Last season, Penrith surged from last in round 13 to seventh place and a preliminary final loss to the Broncos, 16-14, after blowing a 14-0 lead. A sluggish start with seven losses in the first 11 games drained their momentum.
Cleary’s availability bolsters early-round hopes against top contenders, setting the tone for a title push.
