Ivan Cleary is resigned to the fact his son Nathan could miss the rest of Penrith's regular season through suspension but warned that the Panthers star would come back with a point to prove.
The Penrith halfback could be missing for his side's build-up towards the finals after being sent off for the first time in his career on Friday.
The Panthers are one win from clinching the minor premiership but are now staring at an extended period without the 24-year-old after he was dismissed in the first half of their 34-10 defeat to Parramatta.
Nathan was sent off for a spear tackle on Eels playmaker Dylan Brown and will await the adjudication of the NRL's match review committee on Saturday morning.
Luckily for both players, Brown did not suffer a serious injury to his head or neck.
Owing to a previous charge earlier in the season, Nathan could miss the Panthers' five remaining regular season games if hit with a grade-three charge.
"I think all the boys know if they've been in that position they'd feel the same," said Ivan.
"I don't think he meant to do it. He's done a fair bit for our team over the years.
"I know Nat pretty well and this will fuel his fire for later."
The Panthers are already without five-eighth Jarome Luai and face tough assignments against Canberra, Melbourne, South Sydney, the Warriors and North Queensland.
Much of the attention will shift to Sean O'Sullivan, who will be tasked with guiding the Panthers over the coming weeks.
Ivan will be hoping Nathan is shown some leniency by the NRL, given he wasn't the only Panthers player involved in the tackle which contributed to the out-of-control throw on Brown.
"Nat was underneath and Liam Martin at the top, and Fish (James Fisher-Harris) was going to come in too," Ivan said.
"Nat took his base away and probably lifted a little bit too much.
"We would expect that point for the guys at the top to control that part of it but there was no control there and that's how it ended up where it did."
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