Nathan Cleary is eligible to play in Penrith's eagerly anticipated season opener against reigning champions Brisbane, thanks to Panthers coach Ivan Cleary's successful representation of his son at the NRL judiciary.
It's a rare occurrence for a father-son duo to appear before the judiciary, a feat not seen since the late Bob Fulton defended his son Scott in the 1990s. The Clearys managed to present a compelling case that led to a downgrade and a $1800 fine concerning Nathan's high tackle on Wests Tigers prodigy Heamasi Makasini during last Friday's match.
The Clearys, dressed in matching black jackets and chinos, stood alongside football CEO Matt Cameron, football manager Shane Elford, and media manager Michael Blok in similar attire. Following a 38-minute hearing, Ivan effectively convinced the panel that Nathan's tackle was aimed at Makasini's shoulder, justifying a reduction from the initial Grade 2 charge.
"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 halfback said with a smile after his father's successful defense.