Panthers coach Ivan Cleary says he\u2019s \u201cnot comfortable\u201d with a couple of controversial penalty try rulings last week for attacking players being tackled in the air, with the Storm likely to launch plenty of kicks for Xavier Coates when he renews his rivalry with Brian To\u2019o on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The pair have squared off plenty of times in the past, with To\u2019o sent to the sin bin in this year\u2019s State of Origin series opener for tackling the Queensland winger as he reeled in a high kick.<\/p>\n
That decision was hotly debated at the time and is back in the spotlight after both Coates and Cronulla\u2019s Teig Wilton were awarded penalty tries in round 23 after they caught kicks and were tackled in the air.<\/p>\n
The NRL brought in the rule for the 2020 season to match the international interpretations in a bid to protect players from potential injuries if contacted in the air. <\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s tackles weren\u2019t dangerous, but the NRL was comfortable with the Bunker\u2019s rulings, with coaches now on high alert leading into the finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not comfortable,\u201d Cleary replied when asked for his thoughts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s one of those ones where the rule was originally made, we tend to forget why it was made and we drift off and it becomes something else.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat rule is all about player safety. That\u2019s why it was brought in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think some of the ones you\u2019ve seen have nothing to do with safety, so I think there\u2019s a little bit of common sense needed around that rule.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as it\u2019s deemed safe, I think you should at least get the opportunity to try to stop a try in that situation. But that\u2019s not going to happen now, so we\u2019ve got to deal with it the best way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Storm enjoyed plenty of success from kicks when they played Penrith almost a year to the day in round 24, but the Panthers adjusted in the grand final and allowed Melbourne\u2019s wingers to catch the ball before smothering them the second they landed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s part of being a good team. You\u2019ve got to adapt whether it\u2019s interpretations or trends in the game,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re no different and we try to do that as much as we can.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who matches up against some of these wingers, including Xavier, it\u2019s a tough ask. But there are many ways that we can try to combat things like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best way is to not let them down there too often.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers could make a late switch and put Tom Jenkins on Coates, with To\u2019o to give up a 12cm height advantage to his long-time rival who is the best high flyer in the NRL.<\/p>\n
To\u2019o felt the wrath of the rule in Origin and concedes the only thing he can do against taller wingers is to ensure that they compete fairly and hope both men land safely. <\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t tackle him in the air or take his legs out because that can do a lot of damage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not really aware (of the rule) at the time, it\u2019s more about me competing for the ball. As long as the person comes down safely, I think that\u2019s all that matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of all the rules, it\u2019s one of those hard ones. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe majority of the wingers are taller than me, so there\u2019s not much that I can do. It\u2019s my job to compete for those high balls, so as long as both of us come down safely, that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n