‘Tell the truth': Nathan Cleary takes aim at NRL rival Harry Grant over unsportmanlike act
Cleary slotted a field goal in the 78th minute that would have seen his side win 19-18, but Grant played for a penalty by running into Moses Leota, who was in an illegal blocking position.
Ashley Klein and the Bunker both ruled Leota had to be penalised under NRL rules, but it was a bitter pill for Cleary junior to swallow in his post match press conference.
The reporter first asked Cleary what he made of the crucial penalty that allowed Grant to go on and score the match winning try in golden point
'Harry's too smart at both ends, that's pretty much it,' Cleary senior said.
'Nathan how did you see it?' the reporter asked.
'Tell the truth,' Cleary senior said.
Cleary junior was visibly trying not to be salty, but couldn't hide his disappointment in the decision.
'If that was in the field of play and you run a block shape, it wouldn't be an obstruction because they ruled that out,' Cleary junior said.
'If you're defending a three-man and you play for the obstruction, then they don't want that in the game, but for some reason, it's different for a field goal.
'I thought the blocking rule was brought in, so then people wouldn't stand next to the play-the-ball. Moses wasn't in that position.
'I don't believe that everyone can get behind me on that field goal. And then essentially Harry played for it because he knew he was going to get the penalty.
'But I don't think Moses moved at all either, so it was a pretty frustrating.'
The Panthers are some of the best exponents of the field goal in the game and it is something they rarely get wrong.
However, Cleary believes this situation was unique in that it came off a linebreak, which made it hard for Leota to get out of the way.
'It was a bit different because it's sort of happened straight off a line break, so I just went into position,' Cleary explained.
'It wasn't your sort of standard field goal. I think that's what sort of makes it harder as well.
'It's after a linebreak, so Moses is there to take the next run. And then I'm not sure what he's meant to do. Like, I know that's a common cliche, but is he meant to then run through?
'But then if he runs through, he's a chance of taking people out. Do we expect him to get all the way behind the ball and then we've got no one to run it?
'So I don't know. I feel like it's a split second thing where I'm then calling, I want the ball to take the field goal. And Moses is there to take a run. And he didn't move. So I don't know. 'It's pretty frustrating. But at the end of the day, we did enough bad things to ourselves and lost that game.
'And refs calls, they go on your side sometimes and sometimes they're not, so we lost that game ourselves.'
However, Grant believes he was only acting within the rules of the game as they currently stand.
'I think anyone in the game has seen that that's been policed numerous times and that's the rules in the game,' Grant said.
'Even the opposition boys, they were aware of it in the game and when it happened. If that's the rules we stick to it, if we want to change it come out during the week and change it.
'But I think anyone would agree that that's been policed numerous times throughout the year and hats off to the officials for policing it the same way.
'I think there's been numerous ocassions throughout the year where it's been awarded a penalty.
'There's probably some inconsistencies or confusion around it sometimes, but so long as that's the rule, it's black and white, take that forward.
'Even the players throughout on the field knew that they weren't allowed to be in that position.
'We all train for that, we all know the circumstances, we all know scenarios... everyone knows you're not allowed to be in that position and that's a hard one for sure but that's just what's been policed throughout the season.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Now 16, Jacki is among international bull riders competing at iconic rodeo in Queensland
A rodeo ritual for team USA. (Team USA in a huddle): "So we never stop fighting. We never give up. And when we win, it won't be by luck. Amen." Eight-year-old Axton Hale is getting into the zone behind the chutes. He's praying in a circle with other riders before taking on a bucking bull in the red dirt arena. "Let's go now. Are you ready?" There's an organised chaos, with cowboys and cowgirls getting ready before they compete. The chaps are on and pep talks can be heard. "It's just a fun sport, you get on cool bulls and ride cool bulls. I have some emotions if I fall off I might get a tiny little emotional but I have God with me." Axton is among dozens of young international competitors at the Mount Isa rodeo, which has been around since 1959. But it's the first time the event has hosted a junior tri-national competition, with riders from the US, New Zealand and Australia going head-to-head. "Hi my name is Jacki Gayle and I'm a bull rider on team USA." The 16-year-old is the only female junior bull rider at this year's rodeo - hailing all the way from Texas. The African American teenager started riding when she was just 11 years old, but it took months to convince her mother that the sport was safe. "She called me crazy at first and thought that I was going to get hurt; and I wouldn't like it. But I tried and it and here we are four years later. And I've got all my friends and my rodeo family telling me that I can do this. And I don't know, it's just fun." Jacki has earned recognition in various rodeo sanctions and currently holds the title of Southern New Mexico Rodeo Princess. She recently competed in the Bill Pickett Youth Rodeo - an event in Texas which aims to honour Black rodeo history. Jacki admits that growing up, she didn't see many cowboys and cowgirls that look like her - with representation now being an important part of her rodeo journey. "There isn't very many dark skinned or African American cowboys out there. So it's nice for me to be one of the few who are trying to get more awareness and get more people into the sport." And she's not the only one bringing a unique flare to the arena. The other nation competing against Australia and the USA - is New Zealand. (Sounds of Hakka dance and chant) It's the first day of the rodeo and the sun is about to rise; standing in the empty arena, performing the Haka is the New Zealand team. Leading the Haka is Ty Blake, the 16-year-old bull rider attended his first rodeo when he was just 6 weeks old. "Rodeo culture is just family, just one big family. Everyone's together, everyone helps each other out. Dad used to show jump way back in his glory days; and Mum's a horsemanship world champion. So I have good genes." He says the sport has taught him resilience - and fearlessness. "There's a song, called hooked on an 8 second ride and it's about the adrenaline that goes through. And it's something you can't get over. It's like an itch you just got to scratch it and ever since then, I've been scratching it." Kylee Ferguson is the director for the youth rodeo organisation; and he helped co-ordinate the international talent for 2025. "When we take teams to other countries, we really focus on that team building experience and making friends. To us the most important thing is getting the contacts on the other side of the world. You can see the friendships already formed and spending a lot of time together. I think, it's the best way to make friendships across the world." A growing sport - making way for a new generation of rodeo athletes... Including up and coming First Nations bull riders: like 10-year-old Carl Douglas Jnr, who made the journey to Mount Isa from Cape York. "It feels good, sitting on it and riding on it make your family proud. My family was doing bull riding - my cousin, brothers." These young riders, hoping to win some buckles - and lend a hand along the way. Axton again. "I just help little kids when the need it. They need help, I'm right there. I'll show them how to get on a bull, get off a bull and be safe. Cowboy up and ride."
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Sydney Swans beat Richmond by 20 points at North Sydney Oval with star turn from Chloe Molloy
Chloe Molloy has played a starring role in her long-awaited return to the AFLW, helping fire Sydney to a 20-point win over Richmond. Swans co-captain Molloy slotted four goals on return from a knee reconstruction as debutant Zippy Fish lived up to the hype in the 8.10 (58) to 5.8 (38) win at North Sydney Oval on Friday night. It was star forward Molloy's first match since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament at training in September 2024 — just one game into last season. The 26-year-old picked up where she left off and combined well with maturing midfielder Montana Ham (18 disposals, six score involvements) in front of 4,126 fans. Fish, drafted with pick number five last year, lived up to her name by flaunting her blistering pace from half-back, and finished with 25 disposals and nine intercept possessions. Monique Conti was Richmond's shining light with 32 touches, as Caitlin Greiser and Rebecca Miller led the way on the scoreboard with two goals each. Molloy and Greiser had faced off in an early goalscoring shootout as the Swans started the more daring side. Greiser opened the scoring with a long bomb from the 50m arc, before Molloy responded with her first goal on return to help set up a two-point lead at quarter-time. Molloy slotted her second after a laser kick from Ham, but Greiser — mentored by Carlton icon and Tigers specialist coach Brendan Fevola — responded to keep the home side at bay. Sydney wrestled back momentum when young gun Cynthia Hamilton, after overcoming a pre-season knee injury, sold candy not once, but twice, to build a nine-point lead at the main break. Molloy used her body well to outmanoeuvre Tigers defender Katelyn Cox and kick her third goal, before Sydney broke away when Holly Cooper slotted two goals in the third quarter. Richmond, which made the finals last season, will look to bounce back when it hosts the Western Bulldogs next weekend, while Sydney take on Gold Coast. Saturday will feature three games, including Geelong — North Melbourne at Kardinia Park, GWS — Essendon in Canberra and traditional rivals Western Bulldogs and Melbourne at Whitten Oval. AAP/ABC
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'One of the greatest': Roosters boss hails his flyer
Trent Robinson has declared Daniel Tupou one of the greatest wingers the NRL has ever seen after the mild-mannered veteran moved to fourth on the list of all-time try-scorers. Tupou crossed for a hat-trick in the Sydney Roosters' 32-12 upset defeat of third-placed Canterbury on Friday and has now notched 182 four-pointers in his 286-game career. The towering 34-year-old passed Steve Menzies (180) to go fourth and now trails only Billy Slater (190), Alex Johnston (209) and Ken Irvine (212). Robinson, who coached Menzies at French club Catalans, said the legendary second-rower would have been proud of Tupou's feat. "It's a pretty nice bloke to take over," the Roosters coach said. "I was lucky enough to coach Beaver and the old back-rower's gone back to fifth but he'll be happy for 'Toops', I know that." Tupou's sixth hat-trick came in classic style, with his first two four-pointers scored from pinpoint Sam Walker kicks that he touched down in the corner. As South Sydney's Johnston prepares to pass Irvine as the NRL's all-time leading tryscorer, Robinson said it couldn't be forgotten how much Tupou had done for the wing position. The likes of Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Jason Saab are among other wingers to have succeeded in Tupou's image, thriving with their silky hands and aerial prowess. "I think Tupou is the one that's led the way," Robinson said. "I know Xavier Coates is doing a really good job on that, but I think 'Toops' has been the first guy that's really owned the air in this game, for over a decade. "He's one of the best wingers of all time, and he's certainly the best Polynesian winger." Robinson pondered whether anyone in rugby league history would have come close to Tupou for tries scored from high kicks. No other player in the top-10 try-scoring list is a winger with his hulking frame and athletic ability. "He has changed the shape of defence as far as the high-ball catch," Robinson said. "He'd have more high-ball catches than any other person in the game by an absolute mile." Trent Robinson has declared Daniel Tupou one of the greatest wingers the NRL has ever seen after the mild-mannered veteran moved to fourth on the list of all-time try-scorers. Tupou crossed for a hat-trick in the Sydney Roosters' 32-12 upset defeat of third-placed Canterbury on Friday and has now notched 182 four-pointers in his 286-game career. The towering 34-year-old passed Steve Menzies (180) to go fourth and now trails only Billy Slater (190), Alex Johnston (209) and Ken Irvine (212). Robinson, who coached Menzies at French club Catalans, said the legendary second-rower would have been proud of Tupou's feat. "It's a pretty nice bloke to take over," the Roosters coach said. "I was lucky enough to coach Beaver and the old back-rower's gone back to fifth but he'll be happy for 'Toops', I know that." Tupou's sixth hat-trick came in classic style, with his first two four-pointers scored from pinpoint Sam Walker kicks that he touched down in the corner. As South Sydney's Johnston prepares to pass Irvine as the NRL's all-time leading tryscorer, Robinson said it couldn't be forgotten how much Tupou had done for the wing position. The likes of Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Jason Saab are among other wingers to have succeeded in Tupou's image, thriving with their silky hands and aerial prowess. "I think Tupou is the one that's led the way," Robinson said. "I know Xavier Coates is doing a really good job on that, but I think 'Toops' has been the first guy that's really owned the air in this game, for over a decade. "He's one of the best wingers of all time, and he's certainly the best Polynesian winger." Robinson pondered whether anyone in rugby league history would have come close to Tupou for tries scored from high kicks. No other player in the top-10 try-scoring list is a winger with his hulking frame and athletic ability. "He has changed the shape of defence as far as the high-ball catch," Robinson said. "He'd have more high-ball catches than any other person in the game by an absolute mile." Trent Robinson has declared Daniel Tupou one of the greatest wingers the NRL has ever seen after the mild-mannered veteran moved to fourth on the list of all-time try-scorers. Tupou crossed for a hat-trick in the Sydney Roosters' 32-12 upset defeat of third-placed Canterbury on Friday and has now notched 182 four-pointers in his 286-game career. The towering 34-year-old passed Steve Menzies (180) to go fourth and now trails only Billy Slater (190), Alex Johnston (209) and Ken Irvine (212). Robinson, who coached Menzies at French club Catalans, said the legendary second-rower would have been proud of Tupou's feat. "It's a pretty nice bloke to take over," the Roosters coach said. "I was lucky enough to coach Beaver and the old back-rower's gone back to fifth but he'll be happy for 'Toops', I know that." Tupou's sixth hat-trick came in classic style, with his first two four-pointers scored from pinpoint Sam Walker kicks that he touched down in the corner. As South Sydney's Johnston prepares to pass Irvine as the NRL's all-time leading tryscorer, Robinson said it couldn't be forgotten how much Tupou had done for the wing position. The likes of Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Jason Saab are among other wingers to have succeeded in Tupou's image, thriving with their silky hands and aerial prowess. "I think Tupou is the one that's led the way," Robinson said. "I know Xavier Coates is doing a really good job on that, but I think 'Toops' has been the first guy that's really owned the air in this game, for over a decade. "He's one of the best wingers of all time, and he's certainly the best Polynesian winger." Robinson pondered whether anyone in rugby league history would have come close to Tupou for tries scored from high kicks. No other player in the top-10 try-scoring list is a winger with his hulking frame and athletic ability. "He has changed the shape of defence as far as the high-ball catch," Robinson said. "He'd have more high-ball catches than any other person in the game by an absolute mile."
