LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
NRL fans are expressing their frustration over Nathan Cleary's performance after Andrew Johns critiqued a contentious rule during a recent match. On Friday night, Cleary and the Penrith Panthers faced off against the Newcastle Knights, securing a dominating 48-12 victory and marking their ninth consecutive win. However, the game was marred by controversy due to two dubious penalties awarded during Cleary's kicking moments.
The first penalty occurred when Jermaine McEwen made minimal contact with Cleary while he was kicking downfield. This call led to visible frustration from Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien, who was clearly displeased in the coaching box. Commentator Warren Smith remarked, "Adam O'Brien is livid in the box...that's a tough one on the Newcastle Knights," while Steve Roach added, "He couldn't pull out of that."
Shortly thereafter, another Newcastle player was penalized for contacting Cleary's leg as he kicked. Despite Cleary's kicking leg landing on the Knights player attempting to exert pressure, Cleary went down easily, prompting referee Wyatt Raymond to award another penalty to Penrith.
With significant possession and field position in the first half, the Panthers capitalized by scoring five unanswered tries before halftime. Although the Knights struggled with calls and had limited opportunities, they managed to score two tries in the second half.
Newcastle legend Andrew Johns, known for his keen insights on the game, would not have been pleased with the penalty decisions related to Cleary's kicks. Previously, he has expressed concern over the NRL's crackdown on contact with kickers, arguing that playmakers are overly protected. His comments came to light after a previous game when Harry Grant of the Melbourne Storm was penalized for making contact with Luke Brooks's kicking leg. Johns stated his belief that defenders are being unduly harshly treated by referees.