Nathan Cleary has leapt to the defence of his Panthers teammates, especially halves partner Jarome Luai, amid accusations of arrogance and disrespect.
“You’re an easy target when you’re at the top,” Cleary said after pulling the handbrake on back-to-back premiership-winning celebrations.
Aside from a croaky voice, Cleary appeared relatively fresh as he joined his Kangaroos’ teammates for a gym session on Thursday afternoon before the team flew to England.
The Panthers were criticised for their over-the-top partying last year, and ruffled a few feathers again in recent days with provocative comments.
James Fisher-Harris told Panthers fans on Monday that “Parramatta are our sons”, which sparked a “We hate Parra” chant in the crowd, while Luai took a shot at Eels forward Ryan Matterson on Instagram.
It must have felt like a post-grand final Groundhog Day for Cleary, who said: “I love all the boys I play alongside and I don’t think any of them are arrogant. If we were arrogant, I don’t think we’d have gone back-to-back.
“There’s no ego in what we do. To the outside world it might seem like that.
The party is over for Nathan Cleary, who is preparing to help the Kangaroos defend their World Cup crown. Credit:Cole Bennetts/SMH
“I don’t really get frustrated [by the criticism]. I think it’s unfair on some of our players the way they are portrayed in the media. It’s hard to try and control that.
“You’re an easy target when you’re at the top. It’s the world we live in. If you’re successful and doing well, there’s always going to be people wanting to tear you down.
“I think everyone that deals with our team, I feel like they always have a positive interaction with us, and our group is pretty respectful.”
Cleary especially went into bat for Luai, who opted to play for Samoa ahead of Australia at the World Cup.
“Romy’s just a character, I think people enjoy watching him because he is that character, and he’s different to other people – that’s what makes him so special,” he said.
“If he was generic and straight up and down, I don’t think he’d be as good a player as he is. He’s a true competitor.
“Sometimes he’s going to say stuff that’s going to rile people up, and opposition players up, but that’s what we enjoy about the game of rugby league, it’s different.
“I’ve known Romy for a long time, he’s at a stage of his career where as much as he doesn’t want this sort of backlash and whatnot, I think he’s comfortable enough in his own skin and he’s comfortable to be himself.”
Cleary argued that the reference to the Eels being Penrith’s “sons” was not offensive.
“It’s a bit of banter, it adds to the rivalry, it was Fish [Fisher-Harris] saying it, not me, but it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek; it’s pretty harmless,” Cleary said.
Cleary and Reuben Cotter work out with the Kangaroos on Thursday.Credit:Cole Bennetts/SMH
“Parra and Penrith fans are the most passionate out there, they love their footy and also tend to hate each other.”
Cleary and his Panthers teammates Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin, as well as Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard, are all but certain to skip Friday week’s Cup opener against Fiji.
The 24-year-old superstar halfback is expected to make his debut for Australia in the second pool game against Scotland, and almost certainly remain there the remainder of the tournament.
Campbell-Gillard refused to dump on his former teammates for the excessive partying.
“If I won a comp, I’d be going stupid as well,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“For the amount of time you train, you train for roughly 10 months of the year, so to go a bit crazy for a few days [if you win a grand final], I’ve got no issues with it.”
Meanwhile, the NRL has stood down Luciano Leilua from all playing duties following an alleged domestic violence incident that will result in him being banned from representing Samoa at the World Cup.
Police alleged Leilua assaulted his partner and smashed her phone. The Cowboys forward has been charged with two domestic violence offences, including common assault and damaging property, and is scheduled to appear in Campbelltown Local Court on October 11.
Leilua’s lawyer has indicated the former Dragons and Tigers back-rower will plead not guilty.
Leilua had previously spoken about his desire to represent the Pacific Island nation, but his immediate playing future is now on hold.
