Ivan Cleary says Panthers trainer Corey Bocking ‘struggling’ after receiving five-match suspension

Ivan Cleary has labelled the NRL’s sanctions against Penrith’s trainer as “harsh and a little unfair”, claiming he is concerned for the man at the centre of the affair’s welfare.

Penrith were on Wednesday weighing up how to respond to the NRL’s breach notice, after trainer Corey Bocking ran in front of Jayden Campbell as he lined up a shot at goal.

The Panthers are adamant the incident was an accident, taking objection to claims trainer Bocking deliberately did so with Gold Coast 26-24 up on Saturday.

The proposed five-match ban for Bocking is the longest handed down to anyone for an on-field matter this year, beyond what any player has received for foul play.

The NRL’s proposed $50,000 fine to Penrith is also the largest non-suspended fine in almost four years, topping Ezra Mam’s $30,000 for drug driving without a licence last year.

Bocking will be unable to enter Penrith’s sheds, bench or field while serving the ban, with Cleary claiming he would effectively be “ostracised”.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo on Tuesday said there were “six separate incidents involving Penrith Panthers trainers since 2021”, which contributed to the severity of the punishment.

“It was important for us to take the action that we’ve taken,” Abdo said.

“It’s a simple rule and that rule has been broken, whether it was by accident or not it’s a breach.”

Abdo also rejected claims from Canterbury football boss Phil Gould that the NRL’s punishment was evidence of them bowing to public pressure.

Speaking a day after the NRL boss, Cleary begged to differ.

“I just think it’s harsh and I think it’s a little unfair,” he said.

“For one person to receive a suspension based on things that have happened before, that never happens.

“There is no justice system in the world that does that kind of thing.

“The fines, you can make your own judgement on that, that’s a club thing.

“But for Corey, the five-match suspension for something that was clearly a mistake and that he apologised for, we’ve apologised for, I think it’s a little excessive.”

Cleary said he had since become concerned for Bocking in the days since the event, with the sanctions and intense scrutiny.

“He’s struggling and has been right from the time it happened,” the Penrith coach said.

“He cares about his job and understands he made a mistake and it’s become a big deal. The man himself, the last thing he would want is any excess attention.

“You can see it clearly that he was embarrassed and apologised. I think it’s been a bit unfair on him.”

Penrith players also came to Bocking’s defence on Wednesday, with Luke Garner claiming the former West Indies cricket strength-and-conditioning coach had been “hard done by”.

Cleary also shot down any suggestion the incident was deliberate, after Bocking had run from Penrith’s huddle and in front of Campbell as he lined up the shot.

Campbell was visibly frustrated and missed the conversion that would have put the Titans 28-24 up with five minutes to play after going through his routine again.

Penrith then nailed a two-point field goal to send the match to golden point, before a Blaize Talagi try kept the four-time defending premiers’ winning run alive.

“It’s not a fair criticism,” Cleary said.

“It was clearly a mistake. It was the first time in four years that Corey has run that line because his job is to stay with the team after the goal has been kicked.

“The only reason he ran that line was because I changed a sub. So if anyone is to blame, it’s me. And that’s the truth.”

Meanwhile, Cleary did not know when lock Isaah Yeo would return from a subluxed shoulder, with Australia’s Test captain to miss Friday’s clash with Newcastle.

AAP/ABC