- Cleary points to Bunker’s performance during preliminary final
- Coach says he is concerned about NRL’s handling of obstructions
- Penrith beat the Sharks to qualify for a fifth consecutive grand final
Ivan Cleary has implored the NRL to make bunker changes ahead of Penrith’s grand final against Melbourne, saying he is worried “terrible” obstruction calls could cost his team the premiership.
In a sensational postscript to the Panthers’ 26-6 preliminary final victory over Cronulla on Saturday, Cleary said he was having “a lot of anxiety” about the NRL’s handling of obstructions.
Frustrated by a no-try call that went against the Panthers during the second half of the victory, Cleary said he was concerned about a pattern of questionable calls that had gone on for a year.
Up 10-2 with 30 minutes left, Penrith thought they had taken a sizeable lead when Sunia Turuva crossed down the left wing.
But the try was called off when the bunker ruled that Luke Garner had taken out Sharks center Siosifa Talakai in the run-up.
To make matters worse for the Panthers, Cronulla went downfield and scored shortly after to briefly get back into the game.
Replays appeared to show that Talakai had initiated contact, and the Penrith second rower made a deliberate attempt to run past the Shark’s inside shoulder.
“There was an obstruction attempt that was a terrible decision, and that makes me very anxious next week if that bunker officer (is there again). I think it was Chris Butler,” Cleary said afterward.
Ivan Cleary unleashed in NRL bunker after Panthers beat Sharks
Cleary said he was having “a lot of anxiety” about the NRL’s handling of the filibuster.
‘That was wrong and it’s been happening all year.
“That was the only time we got our stuff together and executed the play perfectly and ran to his inside shoulder. In fact, Sifa initiated the contact.
“That worries me if next week the same bunker official (is there) or if he or someone else goes off the same script, then I’m worried.”
Butler is unlikely to be in the bunker next week, with the NRL opting for one of its two best on-field referees for the role during State of Origin II and III this year.
In those games, Grant Atkins sat in the bunker, with Ash Klein as the on-field referee.
“It’s a big decision for (NRL head of football) Graham (Annesley),” Cleary said.
“I don’t know if Graham chooses who is in the bunker, but whoever is there must understand what we are trying to do.”
“There are a lot of referees who won’t be officiating next week and they are some of the best in the game, so surely someone can figure that out.”
Cleary singled out bunker official by name and may be fined by the NRL
Cleary is the latest coach to criticize the bunker this year, after Wayne Bennett launched two separate attacks on video officials in recent months.
“Wayne Bennett, the greatest of all time, came out after the Newcastle game and he was absolutely right,” Cleary said.
‘He said that someone is going to suffer in the final.
“There’s no understanding of what we’re really trying to do and the play we’re trying to execute, especially when it’s executed correctly.”
‘They took Sifa away straight after because I think Fitzy knew how fatigued he was. That says it all.
“I know we got through tonight’s game, but next week is the biggest game of the year and I would hate for something like that to happen.”