UPDATE: Nathan Cleary has avoided a suspension for his hip-drop tackle on Brisbane’s Billy Walters.
Cleary was hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge by the NRL judiciary for his tackle on Walters, and can accept a $1000 fine with an early plea.
The judiciary’s verdict will leave the Panthers breathing a huge sigh of relief after Cleary’s man-of-the-match performance for the Panthers.
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Penrith’s star No.7 was brilliant in Penrith’s big win over the Broncos on Good Friday, but he may face sanctions after wrapping both of his legs around Brisbane’s Billy Walters in a tackle.
The Penrith halfback was immediately apologetic, but it was an ugly-looking challenge.
“I think it’s dangerous, I think it’s really dangerous,” Andrew Johns said on Nine’s post-game coverage.
“It’s not a hip-drop – and they have so many different terminologies for different wrestling moves – but that is dangerous.”
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Queensland Origin coach Billy Slater agreed.
“Traditionally we see a hip drop where both of the defender’s legs are on the same side of the opponent,” he said.
“I think he’s in a little bit of trouble. Whether he misses a week I’m not too sure, but it didn’t look good, the way he fell.”
Thankfully for both men, Walters escaped injury.
“If Billy gets carried off the field, he’s (Cleary) in a lot of trouble, but given the fact that Billy got up… we don’t want to see those sort of tackles in our game,” Slater said.
“It shouldn’t (matter), but it does.”
But coach Ivan Cleary said the matter shouldn’t be of much concern.
“I don’t know what he’s gone on report for, it wasn’t a hip drop, it definitely wasn’t a hip drop – it was a one-man tackle,” Cleary said afterwards.
“It was more like a Cumberland throw, maybe.”
Darren Lockyer said the tackling technique was becoming more commonplace.
“I think he’ll be in a little bit of trouble because of how Billy Walters falls to the ground, but I’ve seen quite a few players sort of wrap that leg around to try and bring them to ground.”
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