Nathan Cleary faces FIVE-game ban after being sent off for shocking tackle on Dylan Brown

Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary is staring at up to five games on the sideline after he was sent off for the first time in his career during the Panthers’ 34-10 NRL loss to Parramatta. 

With the reigning premiers trailing 12-4 at CommBank Stadium, the New South Wales star tackled Eels five-eight Dylan Brown who had almost come to a standstill. 

However, Cleary soon lost control of the tackle, lifting Brown over his horizontal and dumping him into the turf head-first. 

Nathan Cleary receives his marching orders for a shocking tackle on Dylan Brown

The Eels star escaped the sickening collision without anything more than a scare, before gingerly getting back to his feet. Meanwhile, a minor scuffle broke out with Parramatta players urging referee Todd Smith to take action and Panthers captain Isaah Yeo pleading for leniency. 

Cleary looked visibly worried as Smith summoned him for a brief chat and the referee wasted no time in sending him off.

‘Hands in between the legs and you’ve driven him into the ground. You’re off,’ Smith said as the 24-year-old became the first Penrith player since Travis Burns in 2012 to be sent off in an NRL premiership game.

Speaking on Fox League, former Queensland great Cooper Cronk said it was ‘hard to argue with the decision’. 

On Nine, Andrew Johns added: ‘That is a real bad one […] He [Cleary] gets his hands between the legs when he’s lifting him. 

‘He gets him in a terrible position.

‘I’d imagine this would be a first for Nathan Cleary. It would be the first time in his whole career he’s been sent off. I still can’t believe what I’ve seen.’

Cleary could face a lengthy suspension if the NRL remains consistent with its desire to stamp lifting tackles out of the game. 

Cleary (No7) lifted Brown over his horizontal before dumping him onto the ground head-first

Cleary (No7) lifted Brown over his horizontal before dumping him onto the ground head-first

Brown slammed into the turf, before getting up rather gingerly as Cleary was sent off

Brown slammed into the turf, before getting up rather gingerly as Cleary was sent off 

Manly’s Karl Lawton and Wests Tigers centre Brent Naden were both handed four-game suspensions for grade-three dangerous tackles earlier this season. 

Owing to a previous sanction this year, Cleary is likely to get a five-game suspension if hit with a grade-three charge when the NRL’s match review committee announces its charges on Saturday morning.

If he gets a grade-two charge he would be looking at just a three-match ban.

The first-placed Panthers, who are one win from securing the minor premiership, face Canberra, Melbourne, South Sydney, the Warriors and North Queensland to round out their season.

Sean O'Sullivan (right) put the Panthers ahead after just six minutes

Sean O’Sullivan (right) put the Panthers ahead after just six minutes 

But the Eels back with Maika Sivo grabbing a double as the hosts ran riot

But the Eels back with Maika Sivo grabbing a double as the hosts ran riot 

A ban for Cleary could not have come at a worse time with starting five-eighth Jarome Luai sidelined with a knee injury.

The ability of Sean O’Sullivan, who scored the opening try of the night, will be put to the test over the coming weeks with both Cleary and Luai spending time on the sideline.

Utility Jaeman Salmon and two-game rookie Kurt Falls, who has been battling an ankle injury, are the men likely to partner him for the back-end of the season.

The defeat was just Penrith’s second of the year, with both losses coming at the hands of the Eels.

The Eels are the only team to have beaten Penrith this season, winning twice against them

The Eels are the only team to have beaten Penrith this season, winning twice against them

The 34-10 win on Friday lifted Parramatta up to sixth on the NRL ladder

The 34-10 win on Friday lifted Parramatta up to sixth on the NRL ladder 

The victory breathes life into an Eels campaign that appeared to be fizzing out after nearly two months of up-and-down performances. First-placed Panthers, meanwhile, are one win from securing the minor premiership and face Canberra, Melbourne and South Sydney over the next three weeks.

The Eels, who lost winger Bailey Simonsson to a hamstring injury in the build-up, moved into sixth spot on the ladder and travel to Manly next Friday.

After Cleary set up O’Sullivan for the opening try, Isaiah Papali’i nabbed one back for the Eels in a helter-skelter opening period.

A deft 40/20 from Mitchell Moses led to Fijian winger Maika Sivo barrelling his way over in the corner next and both teams were neck and neck until Cleary’s send-off changed the whole complexion of the game.

Penrith remain top of the ladder and are one win away from securing the minor premiership

Penrith remain top of the ladder and are one win away from securing the minor premiership

The Eels hammered home their numerical advantage with crafty hooker Reed Mahoney grabbing a double and skipper Clint Gutherson also crossing to give them a 30-4 buffer at the break.

Penrith held firm after halftime and eventually got over through Liam Martin just after the hour mark.

The Eels struggled for fluency and even with their rivals a man down couldn’t score again until the 78th minute when Sivo added a second.

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