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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Penrith trainer Corey Bocking received the longest suspension handed out for an on-field incident this year in the NRL. (X: NRL)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Bocking will be unable to enter Penrith’s sheds, bench or field while serving the ban, with Cleary claiming he would effectively be “ostracised”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL<\/a> and NRL<\/a> seasons in 2025.<\/p>\n “It was important for us to take the action that we’ve taken,” Abdo said.<\/p>\n “It’s a simple rule and that rule has been broken, whether it was by accident or not it’s a breach.”<\/p>\n Abdo also rejected claims from Canterbury football boss Phil Gould that the NRL’s punishment was evidence of them bowing to public pressure.<\/p>\n “I can say categorically this is not a reaction to the public or social media, this is an application of the rules,” he said.<\/p>\n Speaking a day after the NRL boss, Cleary begged to differ.<\/p>\n “I just think it’s harsh and I think it’s a little unfair,” he said.<\/p>\n “For one person to receive a suspension based on things that have happened before, that never happens.<\/p>\n “There is no justice system in the world that does that kind of thing.<\/p>\n Bulldogs boss Phil Gould, who was previously in charge of Penrith, accused the NRL of bowing to public pressure. (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)<\/p>\n “The fines, you can make your own judgement on that, that’s a club thing.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Cleary said he had since become concerned for Bocking in the days since the event, with the sanctions and intense scrutiny.<\/p>\n “He’s struggling and has been right from the time it happened,” the Penrith coach said.<\/p>\n “We try to temper that with banter, which he takes in good nature, but he’s struggling.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “You can see it clearly that he was embarrassed and apologised. I think it’s been a bit unfair on him.”<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n