Ivan Cleary has batted away suggestions the Panthers are illegally “loitering” in front of halfback Nathan Cleary as a method to give him extra time, describing it as “groundhog day”.
Last year Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett complained to the NRL about the Panthers’ shield tactics.
Those same complaints are rearing their head once more, as last year’s finalists attempt to gain any advantage possible ahead of the crunch NRL match.
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The heat is on referee Ashley Klein to police the area, but Cleary attempted to play down the talk and instead backed the “experienced coach” to do what he does best.
Initially Cleary attempted to keep an arm’s length from the subject, saying it “sounds like groundhog day … I don’t have a take on it.”
But the premiership-winning coach bit when probed again.
“Let’s talk about it then,” he said.
“I haven’t read the story, I don’t know who wrote it, I don’t know anything about it.
“What I do know is Ashley Klein is a very experienced referee. He’ll ref the game how he sees, it’s all part of the game, it’s all good.”
Cleary holds the key for the Panthers as the Penrith side attempt to go back to back.
In State of Origin the No.7 was brilliant in the Blues’ sole win in Perth, but when under pressure in the other two matches he was not able to control the game like he did in the west.
Cleary said the match however would be no different than any other for his son and star playmaker.
“He’s got a target on his back every week, I don’t know how many games he’s played – 140 or something – but he knows what to do and we’ve got some options as well,” he said.
“We always plan for that type of stuff. It’s all part of the game.”
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