Nathan Cleary has avoided a ban for dangerous contact, with the Panthers superstar now just sweating on a foot injury ahead of Penrith's NRL preliminary final.
Cleary was on Monday handed a grade-one dangerous contact charge for collecting Hugo Savala's leg after the Sydney Rooster kicked in Penrith's 19-12 qualifying-final win.
But that charge only carries with it a AU$1000 (NZ$1232) fine with an early guilty plea, meaning Cleary can breathe a sigh of relief with no ban in place.
However AAP understands the two-time Clive Churchill Medallist is set for scans on his right foot late on Monday, with that injury still threatening his finals series.
After kicking a match-winning field goal late in Sunday's win, the Penrith halfback could be seen telling a Panthers physio "my foot is f***ed".
The 28-year-old appeared to suffer the injury moments before that drop kick, and opted to give Dylan Edwards the Panthers' last conversion attempt near fulltime.
Cleary did attempt to play down the injury to his right foot after the game, but his father and coach Ivan admitted there was "something wrong with it".
"I just copped a little bump on the foot," Nathan Cleary said on Fox League.
"It was a pretty important kick, so I just wanted Dyl (Edwards) to take it. I wasn't sure how it would hold up goal kicking.
"It was just precautionary."
Even if Cleary has suffered damage to his foot, it is likely Penrith would be able treat or numb the injury and have him play the Warriors or Newcastle in the preliminary final.
But what impact that treatment may have on his ability to kick and step would remain in question.
The Panthers already have captain Isaah Yeo playing through a ruptured pectoral muscle, after he delayed surgery to return ahead of the finals.
Meanwhile the match review committee's call to hand Cleary a grade-one charge has saved Penrith weighing up a monumental decision.
Had Cleary been handed a grade-two charge, the Penrith halfback would have been facing a one-game ban and the reality of being rubbed out of the preliminary final.
Manly prop Josh Aloiai and South Sydney forward Jacob Host received grade-two charges in 2024 for making contact with kickers.
Canberra's Zac Hosking was fined for a similar incident in last year's finals, while Melbourne's Harry Grant had a charge overturned at the judiciary in 2024.
Cleary could have attempted to fight a ban at the NRL judiciary, but would have risked having the suspension double and include the grand final if he lost.
For now, Penrith don't have to worry about that gamble. But another one may still need to be weighed up on Cleary's foot.
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