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Ivan Cleary has clapped back at the NRL after the league handed down a heavy punishment to the Penrith Panthers after one of the club’s trainers was involved in a controversial incident in Round 22.
Trainer Corey Bocking found himself under scrutiny after he appeared to run in front of Gold Coast Titans star Jayden Campbell as the fullback attempted to take a kick for goal.
Campbell missed the set shot, with the Panthers rallying late in the match. Nathan Cleary kicked a two-point penalty in the 79th minute to send the game to a golden point tiebreaker Blaize Talagi crossed over the white wash in the 82nd minute to keep the Panthers’ eight-match winning streak alive.
But the talking point from the match was Bocking’s decision to run back in front of Campbell while he was taking a kick.
While the Panthers are adamant the incident was an accident, the league handed a proposed five-match ban to Bocking and slapped the club with a prospective $50,000 fine.
The severity of the punishment takes into account the Panthers’ rap sheet, which includes six other indiscretions involving trainers. Shane Elford was the most recent to cop a fine, with the trainer being slapped with a $10,000 penalty after squirting water on a ball during a clash against North Queensland.
Ivan Cleary has explained that Panthers trainer Corey Bocking (pictured) has been ‘struggling’ after Penrith copped a fine after he accidentally ran in front of Titans kicker Jayden Campbell
The Panthers have insisted that Bocking’s (right) decision to run in front of the Titans’ goalkicker was an ‘honest mistake’. Penrith were later handed a proposed $50k fine, while Bocking was handed a proposed five-match ban
Cleary (pictured) took responsibility for the incident, before adding that Bocking was ‘struggling’ following the incident
Cleary, though, claimed the penalty on Bocking was unfair.
‘I think the punishment is pretty heavy,’ the four-time premiership-winning coach explained.
On Bocking, he added: ‘I think his suspension is the biggest of anyone in the NRL this year. I think it’s a bit harsh to come and say that his penalty is based on other things.
‘He’s struggling, has been right from the time it happened.
‘We kind of try to temper that with banter, which he takes in good nature.
‘But yeah, he’s struggling. He cares about his job and understands that he made a mistake and it’s become a big deal.
‘The last thing he would want is any excess attention, that’s his nature. You can see clearly that he was embarrassed and apologised.
‘I just think it’s harsh and I think it’s a little unfair.’
Cleary explained that the last thing that Bocking (pictured) would want was more attention
Cleary also took responsibility for the trainer’s decision to run across the pitch.
‘It was clearly a mistake,’ Cleary added.
‘His job is to stay with the team after the goal has been kicked.
‘The only reason why he ran that line is because I changed a sub. If anyone is to blame, it’s me – that is the truth.’
The Panthers have stated that Bocking was running to the bench to alert the Penrith dugout of a substitution when the incident took place.
Penrith will have five days to respond to the breach notice.
Speaking on the heavy sanctions, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo explained that it was important for the NRL to take into account other actions of Panthers coaches in recent times in their sanctions.
‘(Penrith) have an opportunity to respond to the breach notice but it’s important to note there have been six separate incidents involving Penrith Panthers trainers since 2021,’ Abdo said at the launch of the NRL’s Indigenous Round.
‘So whilst we treat every incident on its own merits, taking into account the fact there have been several indiscretions by trainers from that club, it was important for us to take the action that we’ve taken.’
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