Ivan Cleary Jokes NRL Needs New Televisions After Successful Judiciary Defense
Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has humorously suggested the NRL match review committee should invest in new televisions, as he resolves not to reprise his surprise role as legal counsel at any more judiciary hearings this season. Cleary made the quip after successfully defending his son, star halfback Nathan Cleary, in a high-profile case that cleared the player to line up against reigning premiers Brisbane in Round 1.
Cleary's Legal Skills Secure Crucial Outcome
Last week, Ivan Cleary persuaded the two-man judiciary panel—comprising Ryan James and Greg McCallum—that Nathan's high shot from the pre-season loss to Wests Tigers was worthy of being reclassified from a grade-two offence to grade one. This audacious legal bid proved pivotal, as Nathan had initially been suspended for the opening two rounds of the NRL season. Had the defense failed, his ban would have been increased to three weeks, making the outcome a significant relief for the Panthers.
"Very relieving," Ivan Cleary remarked. "It was a disappointing thing to go through, actually, it was quite a big thing: either no weeks or three weeks for something that was pretty clearly grade one." The judiciary panellists were satisfied that Nathan made primary contact with the shoulder of Tigers winger Heamasi Makasini and that Makasini had lowered his body shortly before the tackle, supporting the downgrade.
Coach Calls for More Leniency in Pre-Season
Ivan Cleary, a four-time premiership-winning coach, was adamant that the contact was not worthy of a grade-two charge and expressed hope that his foray into the legal industry could be a one-off. "It was just one for that occasion. I don't think a lawyer needed to be able to show a couple of still shots and a video to show that it actually didn't happen," he said. "Maybe the NRL need to update their TVs or something for the match review committee."
He also advocated for a more lenient stance from the match review committee during the pre-season, noting that players have gone months without competitive matches. "There needs to be a little bit of understanding that players are still trying to find their timing," Cleary explained. "The frustrating thing was that it was just the wrong call, and I think a lot of people back off from going to the judiciary because they're not that confident how that will work out. But I must say, it worked out well."
Future Legal Roles Unlikely for Cleary
Despite the successful outcome, Ivan Cleary indicated he would prefer to avoid future legal duties. "I'd rather be giving (lawyer duties) to someone else, or we're not in there. That'd be better," he stated. This case highlights the high stakes involved in judiciary hearings and the personal challenges coaches can face when defending their players, especially family members.
The incident underscores ongoing discussions within the NRL about the consistency and transparency of match review decisions, with Cleary's comments adding a light-hearted yet pointed critique of the current processes. As the Panthers prepare for their season opener, this legal victory ensures Nathan Cleary remains available, bolstering their chances against a tough Brisbane side.
