NRL News: Nathan Cleary's injury sparks ugly claims about Josh King's tackling – but did he do anything wrong?

Penrith Panthers fans must accept that they again without Nathan Clearymade some ugly allegations about the tackle that led to his shoulder injury. Cleary left the field and did not return after dislocating his shoulder in a tackle by Josh King in the Panthers' clash with Melbourne Storm on Thursday night.

King had his arm around Cleary's shoulder as they both went down, and Cleary winced in pain as his shoulder appeared to be dislocated fairly harmlessly. The Panthers halfback was examined on Friday and avoided surgery, but will not play before the game. NRL Final exams in at least three weeks.

The damage is minimal and he will likely be ready for the finals, but if he needs surgery he would miss the season. Regardless, the latest development has shocked Panthers fans. Apparently he already spends a lot of his time on the sidelines this year due to a thigh injury.

Did Josh King do something irregular in tackling Nathan Cleary?

Some of the attention, however, was focused on King's tackle on Thursday night, with some fans suggesting the Storm prop did something nasty or dirty to cause the injury. The Storm are known for bringing the “wrestle” into the game about a decade ago, and they are accused of inventing a number of now-illegal tactics such as the chicken wing and the cannon ball.

But to suggest King did anything illegal to cause Cleary's injury is downright comical. Some said his actions amounted to a chicken wing, but replays showed King did nothing wrong at all. He was perfectly within his rights to leave his arm where it was and didn't even appear to move it to cause the injury.

Cleary did not react angrily to King afterwards and none of the Panthers players or coaches have suggested that anything untoward happened. Significantly, coach Ivan Cleary revealed that his son first sustained the injury during pre-season and has now struggled with it all year.

He wore a bandage around the affected area on Thursday night, which also suggested it was a pre-existing problem, and he may have aggravated it earlier in the game when he was penalized for a shoulder bump on Nelson Asofa-Solomona (which also affected his left shoulder).

The NRL also had no problem with King's tackle and the Storm striker was not charged on Friday morning, further proof that fans are on the wrong track with their complaints.

Mitch Kenny and Nathan Cleary have to stand on the sidelines after suspension

While King evaded a tackle, Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny was less fortunate. Kenny will join Cleary on the bench after being suspended for one game for a careless tackle on Grant Anderson late in the second half.

The Storm winger was unable to finish the game due to the punch, but referee Ash Klein opted not to put Kenny in the penalty box. The championship winner will miss next Saturday's away game against Canberra unless he decides to contest the charge in court and wins.

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The news is better for Storm prop Asofa-Solomona, who escaped a suspension for his high shot on Daine Laurie that also hit Storm teammate Cameron Munster in the face. Asofa-Solomona was sent to the penalty box but was only charged with a first class negligent high tackle on Friday and can accept a fine of $1800. Panthers prop James Fisher-Harris also escaped a penalty for the late hit on Jahrome Hughes that put the Storm in position to score the decisive penalty goal.

with AAP