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<\/a><\/p>\nThe 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
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
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary looks on before the start of the Round 22.\u00a0Photo by Ian Hitchcock\/Getty Images<\/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 CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed on Tuesday the sanctions took into account five previous incidents involving Penrith trainers since the start of 2021.<\/p>\n
“I just think it’s harsh and I think it’s a little unfair,” Cleary 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
“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
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“It’s not a fair criticism,” Cleary said.<\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mavrik Geyer will leave the Panthers at season’s end and join Wests Tigers in 2026.<\/p>\n
Told he was surplus to requirements, the 24-year-old second-rower will follow in his father Mark’s footsteps. The club legend left Penrith for one campaign with the Balmain Tigers in 1993.<\/p>\n
Lifeline 13 11 14<\/p>\n
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