Angry Panthers fans sensationally accuse Melbourne Storm players of deliberately hurting Nathan Cleary
- Penrith star Nathan Cleary was injured during the match against Melbourne
- Angry fans accused Storm players of playing games
- Cleary aggravated with shoulder complaint, will return for NRL final
Angry Panthers fans have accused Melbourne Storm players of deliberately injuring star player Nathan Cleary on Thursday night.
Craig Bellamy’s men won a thrilling match 24-22, a result that should see them win this year’s NRL minor premiership.
But it was Cleary who left the field late in the second half with a complaint in his left shoulder, angering many supporters on social media.
Many felt Melbourne used dirty tactics to contain the halfback, with some believing Cleary had been injured by a controversial ‘chicken wing’ tackle.
A chicken wing tackle typically involves restraining the arms of soccer players so that they cannot move to play the ball quickly.
‘OMG let’s hope it’s just muscle but that tackle [on Cleary] was illegal…Melbourne can only win by cheating or illegally tackling key players,’ one fan fumed on the Penrith Panthers’ fans-only Facebook page.
Another posted: ‘Storm bought back the chicken wing. I bet the contest judging committee won’t even mention it.’
A third said: ‘That was a terrible arm-attack on the ground, Storm was in the ruck for too long the whole game.’
Angry Panthers fans have accused Melbourne Storm players of deliberately injuring star player Nathan Cleary (pictured) on Thursday night
Coach Ivan Cleary will be relieved to have his star player back for the NRL finals after scans confirmed he will be out for the entire season
Penrith manager Ivan Cleary was more concerned about the ease with which his team dropped points in what was a lacklustre Premier League performance.
“I was just disappointed with the tries they scored,” he said after the match.
‘A try after a scrum, and two on the last plays where we just weren’t urgent enough for me.’
Cleary also commented on Tyran Wishart’s try, which he took just past Penrith’s Trent Toelau just before the goal line to level the scores with 20 minutes remaining, calling it the ‘worst leaked try I’ve seen in five years.’
Despite fan outrage, the NRL Match Review Committee did not charge any Melbourne players following the tackle on Cleary.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Melbourne Storm for comment.
Meanwhile, scans have confirmed that Cleary is again suffering from the shoulder instability he experienced earlier this year.
The scans also showed he did not require immediate surgery. Cleary is expected to return for Penrith’s finals in September, as they chase four consecutive NRL championships together.
