The Nathan Cleary tackle that could cruel Penrith’s title hopes

Penrith triumphed over the Sydney Roosters in an epic at Commbank Stadium on Sunday – but their premiership hopes now rest with the match review committee, with star halfback Nathan Cleary facing a dangerous contact charge.

The game’s best player knew he was in trouble as soon as he steamed through and tried to charge down a Hugo Savala kick.

Cleary made contact with Savala’s leg, and referee Gerard Sutton told him: “There’s force in it, it’s very dangerous, and there’s a high risk of injury.”

Sutton then sent Cleary to the bin.

A grade-one dangerous contact charge would mean a $1000 fine for Cleary, but a grade-two offence means he’ll miss a preliminary final in two weeks.

Former Manly prop Josh Aloiai was hit with a grade-two dangerous contact charge for a tackle on Shaun Johnson in 2024, as was South Sydney’s Jacob Host.

In the same year, Cleary’s Penrith teammate Freddy Lussick, then playing for the Warriors, was hit with a four-match ban when he broke the leg of Lachie Ilias in a NSW Cup game after he had kicked the ball.

Even if Cleary avoids a charge, there will be just as much attention paid to his right foot, with the No. 7 struggling late in the game.

When he calmly slotted a field goal in the 72nd minute, he hobbled back up the field and told the trainers he was in trouble. He also handed up goal-kicking duties after Brian To’o’s try sealed the club’s straight passage through to the preliminary finals.

What happens to Cleary in the coming days will be huge.

Jack Cogger returns from a three-match ban for the Panthers in the preliminary final, while Blaize Talagi, who returned in the centres against the Roosters, is also an option if Cleary is banned.

The Panthers started the game well, with Cleary slicing through a Naufahu Whyte tackle to put them on the attack early.

It was Cleary’s well-weighted kick that came down for a leaping Liam Martin, who did a brilliant job to get the ball down over the line.

The Roosters were not tackled inside Penrith’s red zone until midway through the half, and they wasted no time getting across the line through the ever-reliable Rob Toia.

The Chooks extended their lead when Mark Nawaqanitawase intercepted a Lindsay Smith pass and showed wonderful athleticism to stop the ball from hitting the ground. Had Nawaqanitawase not taken the intercept, Penrith were a good chance of scoring at the other end.

Dylan Edwards scored before the break when he skipped past a tiring Victor Radley for an easy four-pointer.

Savala had the chance to kick a penalty goal and give the Roosters a half-time lead, but he missed, and Martin was quick to points that out, which sparked a melee. Martin is sure to be on the Roosters’ radar should the teams meet again in the grand final.

Cleary would have been delighted when his teammates refused to concede a point while he was off the park.

The Roosters lost no respect, and a strong contingent of the 22,148 fans – another disappointing week-one crowd – would have returned to the east far from disappointed.

Daly Cherry-Evans had the chance to level the scores late in the game, but he produced one of the worst field-goal attempts in his brilliant career.

Billy Smith was placed on report for a tipping tackle on Edwards, while he could be in a spot of bother for a high shot on a slipping To’o.

The Roosters will start short-priced favourites against Cronulla on Saturday night, and should they win, face a tough road trip north against a fresh Dolphins the following week.