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Fans incensed as Nathan Cleary and Liam Martin go unpunished
Rugby league fans couldn’t quite believe their eyes when Nathan Cleary escaped punishment despite landing a clear punch on a rival.
James McKern
September 28, 2025 – 8:07PM
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The whistle was well and truly away on Sunday night during the Panthers and Broncos preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
NRL official Grant Atkins was keen to let the contest flow as Brisbane produced a miracle comeback to stun Penrith and book their place in the Grand Final.
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But one contentious moment in the second half had fans watching on up in arms and slamming the officiating.
With 25 minutes remaining the contest Ezra Mam chased down and dumped Nathan Cleary as he sent a kick soaring into the Brisbane sky.
The Panthers halfback wasn’t happy with the treatment he received and delivered a left hand to the chin of Mam.
Mam responded in kind by shoving Cleary’s head twice before Panthers enforcer Liam Martin came storming in and took the Broncos star to the turf.
Play continued for a while before Atkins whistled the game dead before the incident between the trio was sent to be looked at.
Cleary and Mam got into it.
Martin was the third man in.
After a brief moment the decision was handed down with no players reprimanded and play getting back underway.
The call not to sent either Cleary to the sin bin infuriated the rugby league community who took to social media to last out.
Cooper Cronk said on Fox League Mam and Martin would have been sin binned in a regular season game.
Code Sports’ Matthew McInerney wrote on X: “Cleary closed fist to the face – doesn’t matter how hard or who it’s to, that’s a sin bin these days.”
Another questioned: “So you can throw a punch but only if you are Nathan CLEARY?”
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News.com.au readers were equally as incensed that Martin wasn’t sent from the field as the Broncos attempted to fight back in the contest.
Tim Betts wrote on Facebook: “So Nathan throws a closed fist punch (be it weak as) and Martin comes in with a swinging arm and no one gets sent … Riiiight cool cool cool, tell me how they aren’t a protected team.”
Lorraine Carthew wrote: “Has always been 10 in the bin. Why not today? Could it be it was a Panther?”
Aaron Crossley posted: “3rd man in. If that’s JWH or Radley they’re already at the pub.”
Nothing to see here, play on. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Despite no Panthers player being sent from the field, the Broncos still managed to wrestle away the momentum of the game.
After being down 14-0 in the second half, the Broncos scored three unanswered tries with two coming in the final 10 minutes of play.
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Xavier Willison scored in the 69th minute to ignite the clash before Deine Mariner crossed in the 75th minute to level the scores.
Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds then sealed the result with a clutch kick from just inside the touch line to secure the 16-14 victory.
It sets up a Grand Final showdown against the Melbourne Storm next Sunday night.
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