Ivan Cleary cops heat over Penrith trainer furore as Bulldogs player's act emerges

Yahoo

13 hours ago

Ivan Cleary has copped some backlash for a nonchalant response to the Penrith Panthers trainer furore as Gold Coast Titans kicker Jayden Campbell was distracted during an important kick. It comes as Bailey Hayward's moment during a Tigers penalty has come under scrutiny.
The fallout to the Panthers trainer debacle has continued with fans waiting to see how the NRL reacts on Monday to the incident. The Titans had just scored and Campbell was lining up his conversion with the ambition of pushing the score beyond a penalty goal or two-point drop goal. Although Panthers trainer Corey Bocking darted across the field and in his line of sight.
Much was made of the incident with Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss calling out the trainer as boos rang around the stadium. "That is disgraceful, that is absolutely disgraceful," Andrew Voss said.
Campbell missed the conversion, before throwing his kicking tee in disgust. However, he soon chased down the kicking tee and appeared to apologise to the ball kid in a classy move.
The Titans ended up losing the game with Nathan Cleary icing a two-point field goal to take it to golden point. And Blaize Talagi scored in extra time to seal the victory for the Panthers and move them within a point of the Warriors in fourth.
However, coach Cleary has now come under scrutiny for his response to the debacle. "I didn't see it...he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We had a sub and I changed it at the last minute," Cleary said after the game.
"He was trying to communicate with the bench for a late change. It was an honest mistake. He apologised straight away. Gold Coast Titans fans may not feel like an apology is enough with the Panthers finding themselves in yet another trainer controversy this year.
And speaking on Monday morning, NRL commentator Voss has called out Cleary for his response to the situation. Voss feels Cleary and the Panthers were too quick to dismiss the incident with the fans rightfully upset.
"I didn't see it, that just infuriates me that first line. To say I didn't see it, of course you saw it. C'mon, we replayed it six times. The game was stopped. That just throws petrol on the fire," Voss added on SEN Radio about Cleary's comments. When asked if it could have been an accident from the trainer Voss said: "Yes, but I can't accept that."
Bailey Hayward called out for Tigers moment
Only a day after the Penrith trainer was slammed for distracting the kicker and the rules being dug up, Bulldogs sub Hayward could have also been at the centre of attention. Voss called out the Bulldogs star as Adam Doueihi was lining up a penalty kick.
The Tigers were awarded a penalty in front of goal after Stephen Crichton collected Taylan May high, but remained on the field, with the Wests Tigers star leaving for a category one HIA. And Doueihi lined-up the conversion to push the lead out against the Bulldogs.
Although cameras picked up Hayward quite animated as he waved his arms in front of the goal. This could have been deemed another offence and if Doueihi had missed the penalty, the referee would have been within his rights to award the Tigers kicker another opportunity. And Voss called out Hayward following the drama that had unfolded only 24 hours earlier in the Panthers and Titans game.
"Even Bailey Hayward yesterday, was waving his arms around in front of a Doueihi kick. And I thought, you goose. What are you doing?" Voss said following the Panthers debacle.
Andrew Voss calls for answers from NRL
Voss admitted the NRL doesn't have a clear rule on what to do if the trainer does impede a goal kick. But it doesn't excuse the Panthers from the incident.
"If a defending player waves their arms in front of a kicker and he misses, the referee is obliged to let the kicker have another shot. But no where does it cover a trainer doing that. An external party to the players. There is no rule. Liam Kennedy would have had to make up a rule in the spirit of the game on the spot," Voss added. "We can bulletproof ourselves for future...but first things first, what we do is what action?"