Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary has been called out for saying he “felt sorry” for team-mate Taylan May after he was found guilty of assault.
May is controversially allowed to play in the final despite receiving a two-game NRL ban after being found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm in a Queensland court last Wednesday.
The 21-year-old was involved in an incident at a pub on the Sunshine Coast last October following Penrith’s grand final triumph.
Stream every game in every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership season live and ad-free during the game on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
CCTV footage played in court showed May walk up behind a man, who was talking to his brother Tyrone May and Cleary, then grab him by the neck and pull him to the ground.
The man hit his head on the ground during the altercation and suffered a sprained neck. May pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.
May’s behavior was branded “reprehensible” and “cowardly” by the magistrate and he was ordered to pay $1,000 in victim compensation and a $1,000 fine.
The NRL handed down its punishment on Tuesday, handing May a two-match ban to serve next season and a $7500 fine that was 50 per cent suspended.
The decision to delay his suspension was widely ridiculed, but Cleary went into bat for his team-mate on Wednesday.
“It’s great (that he’s playing), you want your best players on the park and it’s been huge for us this year,” Cleary said.
“For sure (he learned a lesson) and everyone can take lessons from it, even people who weren’t part of it. It’s the spotlight we live in these days, rugby league is a 24-7 job, not just when we come here or train or in the field.It’s when we are with the outside world and everywhere.
Taylan May of the Panthers. Getty Images Source: Getty Images
MORE NRL NEWS:
WHISPERS: Storm final bid, Munster confirm Tigers approach amid delayed talks
‘RIDICULOUS’: Roosters’ Tedesco switch hit amid Suaalii’s undeniable ‘dilemma’
‘REPLACED HIM’: Manly to give Hasler chance, review may ‘force him out’
TRANSFER FACTORY: Tigers lock down former Origin prop on long-term extension
TEAM ANALYSIS: Robbo solves a huge Manu headache; Redemption of clear eyes
“I’m sorry he went through all of that, obviously you feel for your teammate who has to go through things like this and the scrutiny around him, as we touched on there are lessons to be learned and I will always respect Taylan.”
Cleary also defended May’s character and said people were quick to make assumptions about others.
“He’s a great kid and if you know him personally you’ll know that too,” Cleary said.
“One thing a lot of people like to do is judge people just by what they see without really knowing them, but I think people close to him know what he’s really like and we’ll always be there for him because we know what he’s like as a person.
But those comments were called out by NRL 360 host Paul Kent on Wednesday night.
“I respect Nathan Cleary standing up for his mate, that’s what you do, but I don’t agree with it,” Kent said.
“To say I felt sorry for him. Taylan May is sitting there with nothing to do there, he’s not even a part of it.
SEASON REVIEW:
SEA EAGLES: How Manly’s season unraveled and why it’s not Des’ fault
BRONCOS: $1 million elephant in room as final disaster exposes division
DRAGONS: $800,000 call key for Dragons as awkward issue reaches tipping point
TIGRES: They reached a “diabolical” low. Now the Tigers “must change everything”
“The guy has his back to him, talks to Nathan Cleary and feels compelled to go up, grab him by the neck and throw him to the ground.
“In court he tried to argue that he was provoked, he pleaded not guilty, he has shown no remorse for it. He hasn’t come out and apologizes. Everyone feels sorry for this kid, it’s the old good rule.
“Well, maybe the 18-year-old boy who got knocked down is a good kid too, but there’s not much sympathy for him. As usual, it’s all one-way.”
Panthers star Jarome Luai echoed the sentiment and was excited for May to play in their qualifying final against the Eels on Friday night.
“I am very happy to play next to him. Everyone has learned a lesson, we have to watch what we do out there in public,” he said.
But veteran rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield was left dirty with the NRL’s punishment.
“They got it right with a two-week ban, what they’ve got wrong and it’s terribly unfair to Penrith’s 15 opponents is they’ve deferred the suspension until the new year,” he said.
“Not only can he play finals, he can also go to the World Cup and play for his nation. I think it’s scary. Payne Haas and Albert Kelly each had a stupid week earlier this year, they had a great game that weekend.”
Get all the latest NRL news, news and analysis straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!