LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary defended his decision to rest 16 players for Thursday's match against the Bulldogs, citing player fatigue as one reason. He noted that his team has been engaging in "cutthroat footy for a long time."
As concerns arose about integrity, betting on the game was suspended after the four-time champions' odds shifted from $1.60 favorites to $2.30 outsiders shortly before the team lineup was announced. The NRL is currently investigating these discrepancies.
Among the rested players were stars such as Nathan Cleary, co-captain Isaah Yeo, and Liam Martin, all of whom were part of the squad that lost to Canberra the previous week. The only player retained from that game to face the Bulldogs is halfback Brad Schneider.
On Wednesday morning, Cleary justified his controversial decision, which drew mixed reactions-some critics raised concerns while others praised it as a strategic move to prepare his key players for a more challenging finals run, especially given that the Panthers are likely to miss the top four this season.
"Every decision that I kind of make in my job has a lot of different ramifications," Cleary explained. "They're not easy, but some come clearer than others, and this one was fairly clear."