Panthers coach Ivan Cleary won\u2019t be dusting off his suit for a return to the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night after the club took the early guilty plea for Mitch Kenny\u2019s dangerous contact charge, even if Cleary doesn\u2019t think it was a hip-drop tackle.<\/p>\n
Kenny was sent to the sin bin during Saturday\u2019s clash against the Eels for a tackle that has left Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi with a syndesmosis injury.<\/p>\n
The Panthers hooker was then hit with a grade 2 dangerous contact charge and offered a one-match ban with an early guilty plea, with Kenny suspended for two games for a hip drop last year. <\/p>\n
Cleary voiced his frustrations after the game and was adamant that the tackle wasn\u2019t a hip drop, with the four-time premiership-winning coach saying \u201cif there\u2019s a body, someone killed him\u201d, suggesting injuries play a part in heavier punishments.<\/p>\n
The controversy comes a week after Dragons forward Ryan Couchman was banned for four matches for a hip drop that left Eels star J\u2019maine Hopgood with a season-ending ACL injury. <\/p>\n
The Panthers coach represented his son Nathan at the judiciary earlier this year and was successful, but he won\u2019t be returning to NRL headquarters this week, with Kenny to miss Friday\u2019s game against the Storm.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I was told I\u2019m staying far away from it,\u201d Cleary replied, hinting at a potential future discussion with the NRL about the current interpretation of the tackle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is always consideration (to fight it) because you want to look after your players the best you can. I stand by what I said, but there\u2019s just no chance for us to fight it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt actually isn\u2019t a hip drop, it\u2019s dangerous contact. So what once was a hip drop or still is a hip drop is now dangerous contact. That\u2019s been brought into that context.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just an eye for an eye, I think. He got injured, it landed on the back of his leg so to speak, so that\u2019s what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Off-season recruit Freddy Lussick is the man most likely to replace Kenny for the blockbuster Friday bout where the Panthers are looking to remain unbeaten after five rounds. <\/p>\n
Lussick was one of several players the Panthers poached from the Warriors team that dominated reserve grade in 2025, with the experienced dummy-half impressing his new coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been unbelievable in pre-season. He\u2019s one of the fittest guys I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d said Cleary, who has worked with freak athletes like Dylan Edwards. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe turned up with a great attitude. He just made every post a winner every day. He possibly couldn\u2019t do any more. (He) competed really hard, so I\u2019m looking forward to seeing him get a chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he was trying to be one (a starter), so I guess that was the point (of him working so hard).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe changed up a bit of our depth, if you like to call it that, and that was one of the reasons. We needed a bit of fresh energy and he\u2019s one of the guys that brought that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleary said that challenges don\u2019t come much bigger than taking on the Storm who are coming off back-to-back losses where they\u2019ve blown big second-half leads. <\/p>\n
The Panthers have conceded just 30 points through the opening four rounds and will be raging favourites to add to Melbourne\u2019s misery, but Cleary is wary of Storm fullback Sua Fa\u2019alogo, who has started the year with a bang. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe brings people into the stands and on the TV,\u201d Cleary said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an electric player with incredible ability to beat people. He\u2019s done some amazing things so far. Hopefully, we can try and reduce his impact, although no doubt he\u2019ll come up with some pretty cool plays. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut if we play well and control what we can do, hopefully we can limit him and there\u2019s a few others in there as well. They\u2019ve got some elite talent in that team. We just have to try and limit that as best we can.\u201d<\/p>\n