The Panthers have been criticised for exploiting the rules by using two players to block Nathan Cleary from kick pressure as Souths started the mind games ahead of the preliminary final.
Just as they did during last year’s finals series Souths have put the pressure on Penrith by raising the blocking tactics with the NRL referees leading into the crunch clash.
“Souths launched a campaign again against Nathan Cleary and his blockers at Penrith,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
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“If you remember last year it was on for young and old. It was the first semi-final and Wayne Bennett came out and warned the referees and put them on notice and they got results.
“Ivan Cleary was not happy at all about the result and about the change in apparent refereeing.”
Paul Kent recalled Panthers coach Cleary struggling in a war of words with then Souths coach Bennett before Penrith were beaten in the first final, before he learnt his lesson to lead his side to the title in the rematch.
“He went off like a two bob watch after the game and only later conceded that it got to him and he handled it poorly,” Kent said.
“He learnt his lesson come the grand final Souths tried it again grand final week and he didn’t bite.
“He said nothing and sat back and let the footy do the talking and they got the result, but it’s on again.”
Anasta asked if the tactics were allowed by the letter of the NRL rule book.
“Is it OK to do this?” Anasta asked.
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“No it is not, it is illegal to do this,” Kent said.
“You can see Isaah Yeo actually step back to prevent the chase. You are not allowed to do that.
“If you go back to the rule that Souths have highlighted and put out publicly. The fact is you are not allowed to do it.
“Most teams do it. Not only Penrith, but they have gained the most advantage by it because Cleary is the best kicker in the game.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis believes Souths are trying to get an edge, given Cleary’s dominance with his kicking game in their first final against the Eels.
“They are trying to find a way to nullify Nathan Cleary’s kicking game because at the moment he can’t be stopped,” Carayannis said.
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“We saw the exhibit he had against Waqa Blake, who is still having nightmares over what happened a couple of weeks ago.”
Kent revealed the smart coaching by Cleary to tweak the way his players block Cleary after they were called out last year.
“You can see what they are doing and they have transitioned a little bit,” Kent said.
“This is the clever coaching that is happening at Penrith. Most teams and this is what Penrith were doing last year is putting one right there and he was moving to try and interfere with the chaser.
“What they are doing now is they have two people there at slightly different angles, so he has got to weed through them.
“So they are not moving as much but the two people adds to the degree of difficulty.”
Carayannis questioned if the referee would penalise the Panthers early in the preliminary final to stamp out the illegal tactics.
“Can you imagine if Ashley Klein blows a penalty with the first kick of the game?” Carayannis asked.
“That would set the tone,” Anasta said.
“Because he is either going to blow the penalty straight away or he is not.”
Kent would commend Klein for blowing a penalty because the tactics are against the rules of the game.
“He can set a tone Klein,” Kent said.
“But if Ashley Klein does see that and goes out and blows a penalty, all well and good because it is not allowed. It is the rules.
“And the fact that Penrith are clearly coached to try and exploit that and the lack of action from the referees is the other part.”
