Nathan Cleary Cleared to Play Preliminary Final After Taking Early Guilty Plea

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Penrith Panthers fans have received a huge boost with Nathan Cleary cleared to play in the club’s upcoming NRL preliminary final.

Cleary was facing a nervous wait after being sin-binned during Penrith’s thrilling finals victory over the Sydney Roosters for dangerous contact on Roosters winger Hugo Savala.

The Panthers halfback was subsequently hit with a Grade 1 dangerous contact charge, but the charge came with no suspension attached if Cleary accepted the early guilty plea.

Cleary has taken that option, meaning he will pay an $1,000 fine but avoid missing any games.

The decision is a major relief for Penrith, who are now just one win away from another NRL Grand Final.

The incident occurred late in the first half against the Roosters when Cleary attempted to charge down a kick from Savala.

In doing so, Cleary made contact with the Roosters player's kicking leg, prompting referee Gerard Sutton to send him to the sin bin.

The decision came with the match locked at 12-12, leaving Penrith without their star playmaker during a crucial period of the contest.

Cleary later admitted he had made a “super stupid decision”, expressing his regret over the incident.

Despite being reduced to 12 men, Penrith survived the period without Cleary and eventually secured the victory.

The Panthers' resilience proved crucial, with Cleary returning to the field before playing a major role in the dramatic finish.