Parramatta back-rower Isaiah Papali’i has insisted the grand final underdogs won’t be afraid to raise the issue of Penrith’s blockers with referee Ashley Klein if they feel Nathan Cleary is getting illegal protection.
The selection of back-row enforcer Nathan Brown has laid the platform for a fiery grand final, to which Cleary undoubtedly holds the keys after kicking the Eels off the park in the qualifying final between the western Sydney rivals three weeks ago.
Despite South Sydney last week raising the matter of Penrith forwards standing as blockers to afford Cleary time on last-tackle kicks, the Eels insist they want the Panthers’ main man to “second guess himself”, and will consider making on-the-run complaints to the match officials if warranted.
“Even last year, everyone complained about it but we’re aware of what they might do and what they’re good at,” Papali’i said.
“Maybe we tip the refs up, that will be up to the captains [Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo] and Brad [Arthur], but there’s no excuse. If they’re in the way you’ve got to maybe push them.
“I definitely want him to feel like he’s second guessing himself, or we get into him so he doesn’t have that time and space. That’s what he’s really good at, nailing opportunities when he has that time and space.”
Nathan Cleary’s kicking holds the key to a Penrith grand final win.Credit:Getty
The tactic is hardly isolated to Penrith, with basically every club in the NRL positioning big forwards at the side of the ruck to obstruct markers wanting to pressure kickers on crucial end of sets.
But when it comes to Cleary, no team has a better general-play kicker, and arguably only Queensland have found a tactic to harass the game’s ultimate surgeon, nullifying the NSW No.7 in both the first and final State of Origin matches in 2022.
The issue created a storm during last year’s finals series when former South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett and Penrith mentor Ivan Cleary traded barbs. Twelve months on and Cleary is still leading rivals a merry dance.
He tortured Eels winger Waqa Blake in their first finals meeting this season, and Parramatta were roundly criticised for not exerting enough pressure on the 24-year-old.
Asked about the practice of blockers, Penrith prop Spencer Leniu said: “Your halfback is the most important person in the team and you would do anything to stop people coming in and tackling him after he’s kicked the ball.
“Our intention is to keep him safe, but I’m not too sure what other teams do.”
The praise for Cleary was certainly flowing from Parramatta opposite Mitchell Moses, who paid the Clive Churchill Medal winner the ultimate accolade.
“He’s the best halfback in the game and his last two performances having been out for five weeks and then what he’s done, he’s pretty much carried them,” Moses said.
“He’s led by example and that’s why he’s the best halfback in the game. If we can contain him this week that will put us in a good position to win the game.”
Cleary was a $3 favourite with Sportsbet on Thursday to win the Clive Churchill Medal in consecutive years, topping a market including Dylan Edwards ($7.50), Moses ($8) and Isaah Yeo ($11).
