Joel Clinton (born 8 December 1981) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop in the 2000s and 2010s.

An Australia international representative, he played his club football in the NRL for the Penrith Panthers (with whom he won the 2003 premiership) and the Brisbane Broncos.

He described the experience as "a great personal bonus but it did not compare to winning the premiership with the guys you train and play with all year long."

As 2003 NRL premiers, the Panthers travelled to England to face Super League VIII champions, the Bradford Bulls in the 2004 World Club Challenge.

Manly five-eighth Travis Burns branded Joel Clinton as "childish" and a "bad sport" for allegedly squirting him with a water bottle while lining up a match-winning penalty goal in round 20 (23 July 2006).

Viewing the replay, it appears that Clinton was standing over 10 metres away from Burns, leading Coach John Lang to comment "it must've been a bloody big squirt".

In round 19, 15 July 2006, Clinton made international headlines with a tackle on Ty Williams of the North Queensland Cowboys.

"He'd primed himself to match the muscle of Canterbury's Mark O'Meley and Willie Mason and produced as good a performance as he's given since 2003, when he made the Australian squad as a young prop."

During the week, a virus spread through the team, affecting Clinton, Luke Priddis, Frank Puletua, Nathan Smith and Craig Gower – who was hospitalised.

[9] In round 9 the Penrith club broke their five match losing streak against the Cowboys, despite the early loss of halfback play-maker Craig Gower.

Solely chasing a mediocre kick, the bounce of the ball confused Cowboys winger Brenton Bowen, allowing Clinton to gather and score in the corner.

[10] "Clinton's effort was one of the few spectacular things to happen in a scrappy game, his athletic pick-up on the fly from a Peter Wallace kick belying the fact he is a front row forward and one of the biggest players in the NRL.

[15] On 9 June, Clinton was fined $50,000 by the Brisbane club for bringing a woman back to his hotel room the night before an NRL match.

[16] Clinton played a total of 22 games for Brisbane in the 2009 NRL season including their 40-10 preliminary final loss against Melbourne.

[20] After winning the 2003 NRL Premiership, Joel Clinton got a tattoo of a giant snarling panther on his right shoulder, "a reminder of the feats of the past".