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Cleary clan heckled as Tigers break Panthers’ streak

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4th June, 2021
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The players’ bunker offered little shelter for Penrith’s six NSW Origin representatives at Leichhardt Oval on Friday night as they watched their 12-NRL winning streak come to an end. 

The barrage of abuse came thick and fast for the Panthers boys, with Nathan Cleary copping the worst of it by the vocal Wests Tigers crowd.

A 26-6 win for the Tigers was their first back-to-back victory of the season and only stoked the already intense rivalry between the two Western Sydney sides.

Cleary was heckled mercilessly, while his father and coach Ivan could at least pretend not to hear the chants or see the rude gestures from fans from his spot in the coaches box. The animosity for Cleary’s exit from the club back in 2018 is still alive and well.

To his credit, Blues halfback Cleary stuck it out on the sidelines until the end of the game before disappearing up the tunnel, only to re-emerge to shake hands with ex-skipper and current Tigers captain James Tamou.

Cleary, as well as Blues teammates Jarome Luai, Api Koroisau, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo, and Queensland representative Kurt Capewell, were all missed in the scrappy loss to Tigers.

However, with just one day in between the Origin opener in Townsville on Wednesday and their Friday night match against Cronulla, there is doubt they will be able to back up.

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A chartered flight from Townsville to Sydney could help the situation, but it would be a massive day of travel for Penrith’s key players, especially Cleary and Luai, who will be tested most heavily by Queensland on Wednesday night.

Coach Cleary said he has a plan, but is resigned to missing at least some of his stars to face Cronulla in Kogarah on Friday.

Ivan Cleary

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

“We’ll see how we go injury wise… once we work out what players we have in certain positions,” he said.

“We’ve got a plan in place but there’s also a bit of wait and see come Wednesday as well.”

Matt Burton and Tyrone May deputised in the halves in Friday night’s loss and Cleary was not happy with their execution at the end of sets. Burton had a tough night in particular, twice failing to find touch to dampen what could have been a solid performance.

“He scored a great try, but for the guy who kicks the ball the most he would be disappointed, and he should be,” Cleary said.

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“I don’t think Matt has gone through anything but good games so far, so he’ll be right.

“We’ve certainly got a lot of faith in Matt.

“He’s one who had to change positions and play in a completely different position. He’ll be better for the run.”

© AAP

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