Penrith star Nathan Cleary has been ruled out of the NRL grand final rematch against Melbourne, with back-up half Matt Burton taking his place.
NSW Origin halfback Cleary suffered a head knock in the final minutes of Saturday’s 28-0 win over Canterbury just four days ago with not enough time to pass concussion protocols.
His absence allows Burton, who has signed with Canterbury for 2022, to play his first NRL game for the season in the halves against Melbourne.
On Wednesday coach Ivan Cleary said Nathan had presented fine in the days after copping a high hit from Dallin Watene-Zelezniak but the NRL’s return to play protocols made the decision for them.
“It’s quite complicated but the system is there to protect the players and we obviously respect that,” he said.
“It’s disappointing that he’s not playing but we’ve got full faith in Burto and he gets his opportunity so I’m looking forward to seeing how he plays.”
It comes amid the Bulldogs’ latest push to get Burton released from the end of his Penrith contract.
Ironically, a high shot from a Bulldogs player has presented the Panthers with the chance to show why they won’t let the 21-year-old go.
“I mentioned last week that probably the last month when there was a few rumblings going around I had a chat to Matt, not that he was bad before that, but I felt like he was a little bit distracted and since then he hasn’t shown one sign that he’s not happy here.
“His performances at Cup level have been really good.”
Burton has been in hot form for the Panthers in reserve grade with two tries and three try-assists in the first two games of the season but will face a jump in class against Melbourne on Thursday night.
Coming off a loss to Parramatta last week, the Storm look ominous having not lost back-to-back games since rounds 21 and 22 of 2018.
And despite beating Penrith in last year’s grand final, Storm coach Craig Bellamy said the Panthers are the form team of the competition having not conceded a point in their past two games.
“They had a great run last year I think they won 17 games straight there up to the grand final and they haven’t conceded a point yet to start this season off so they’re obviously in really good form,” he said on Wednesday.
“We know it’s going to be a tough match-up.
“They’ve controlled the ball really well which obviously helps, they’ve got more energy to defend.”
© AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
New coach Michael Maguire's plans are in disarray NSW halfback Nathan Cleary could miss the entire State of Origin series after scans confirmed a…
Nathan Cleary limped off BlueBet Stadium just before half-time in Penrith's 16-10 win over the Bulldogs after aggravating his hamstring injury, throwing Michael Maguire's…
Ivan Cleary is right when he says NRL clubs that produce their own talent should be compensated when rival teams plunder the players they…
Jarome Luai has declared he has unfinished business in NSW colours, with the Penrith five-eighth desperate to win his way back into the State…
Wayne Bennett is set for a face-to-face with the South Sydney hierarchy at Magic Round, according to reports in Newscorp outlets. His interest in…
Ivan Cleary has labelled prospective Panther David Fifita a "marquee player" as the Gold Coast wrecking ball prepares to make a call on his…
