'Untruthful': Cleary and May hit with two-match NRL bans and fines
Penrith face losing superstar halfback Nathan Cleary for the next two NRL games after the integrity unit sensationally came down hard on him for being ''untruthful'' about his social distancing slip-up on Anzac Day.
Panthers teammates and Cleary's housemate Tyrone May has also been issued a breach notice and faces a $15,000 fine and two-match suspension ahead of the May 28 competition reboot.
Nathan Cleary dancing with a group of women in a TikTok video.
Cleary landed in hot water last month when images of him partying with a group of young female friends emerged on social media during the COVID lockdown.
A day after he was fined by the NRL and described his actions as ''naive'', Cleary was left red-faced when further footage of him dancing on TikTok with the same group of girls surfaced.
The integrity unit was disappointed Cleary did not volunteer the information during their original investigation, which is why they proposed the two-match ban and $30,000 fine.
Panthers officials privately expected Cleary to be hit with an increased fine but spared a suspension.
In a statement released on Monday night, the NRL said: "The notices allege that the players were untruthful in relation to material matters and the proposed sanctions reflect the seriousness of those allegations.
"Both players will now have an opportunity to respond to the matters alleged in breach notices before a final determination is made."
May, who was already banned until round five after pleading guilty to releasing sex tapes without consent at the start of last year, could now be out of action until round seven.
It's understood May was said to have gone to his room to distance himself from the unexpected female guests once they arrived, but the integrity unit later discovered this was not the case.
Penrith officials will meet with the pair on Tuesday morning and discuss whether to accept the breach notices or challenge them.
The Panthers had won their opening two matches of the season with 22-year-old Cleary a star in both wins.
Cleary's father and Penrith coach Ivan could now be forced to play Jarome Luai and Matt Burton in the halves.
Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr were both fined last week for also breaching social distancing laws when posing for photos during a camping trip on the NSW mid north coast. The pair were also later charged with firearms offences.