Nathan Cleary, the star halfback for the Penrith Panthers, is undergoing scans after sustaining a shoulder injury that could jeopardize his return in the Panthers’ bid for another premiership title. In a closely contested match against the Melbourne Storm, which many view as a potential grand final preview, the Panthers were edged out 24-22. However, the real concern arose in the 67th minute when Cleary went down during what appeared to be a routine tackle. The crowd of 20,516 at BlueBet Stadium fell silent as Cleary clutched his left shoulder in visible pain.
After a quick examination on the field by Penrith’s medical staff, Cleary was escorted off, his distress evident as he tried to regain feeling in his hand. This injury recalls a similar situation in 2021 when Cleary dislocated his right shoulder during State of Origin II but managed to lead his team to a premiership before undergoing surgery. Post-game, Cleary was seen in deep conversation with his father and coach, Ivan Cleary, who expressed uncertainty about the exact nature of the injury, noting that more would be revealed after the scans.
Cleary had only recently returned to the field after recovering from a serious hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for nearly three months. His father acknowledged the recurring nature of the shoulder issue, which had troubled Cleary earlier in the season, and expressed concern about its impact on the remainder of the season. Despite this, he noted that Cleary seemed to be in better condition than during his hamstring injury, offering a glimmer of hope for his recovery.
In Cleary’s absence, Jack Cole stepped into the halves, and with three rounds left in the regular season, he may continue to fill in if Cleary’s injury proves serious. The match itself was filled with drama, including a late hit by James Fisher-Harris on Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes, which allowed the Storm to secure the decisive penalty goal. The Panthers had a chance to steal the victory in the final seconds, but a long-range field goal attempt by the returning Dylan Edwards fell short.
Adding to the tension, Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona was sin-binned for a hit on Daine Laurie, which also left his teammate Cam Munster bloodied. Despite these setbacks, the Storm’s victory solidified their position at the top of the ladder, while the Panthers, who remain in second place, now face uncertainty regarding their key playmaker as the finals approach.
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