Nathan Cleary on track for NRL return against Dolphins

There’s still a few training boxes for Nathan Cleary to tick but all signs point to an on-schedule NRL return this weekend.

Nathan Cleary is set to return from injury. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary says his superstar halfback son Nathan is not being “fast-tracked” back into the side, with a return more likely than not against the Dolphins on Sunday.

Nathan needs to get through three more Penrith training sessions before getting the green light to play his first game since a hamstring injury in round 14, just days after the opening State of Origin clash, ruled him out of the rest of the series.

The gun playmaker has missed four games, three of which the ladder-leading Panthers won without him.

Ivan said the 25-year-old, who was named in an extended Penrith squad and would play game 150 in the NRL if he runs out, was coming back as scheduled.

“There’s a pretty good chance (he’ll play) I reckon … he’s tracking really well,” Ivan said on Wednesday.

“No, not fast-tracking. This was the weekend that he was always aiming to play in. He’s gone well in his rehab, so we just have to see how the week goes.”

Nathan Cleary will be back with Jarome Luai this weekend. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Dolphins assistant coach Kristian Woolf said Cleary‘s name on an extended bench was a strong indication he would run out.

“I think they have named him for a purpose,” he said.

“I‘d expect that he is probably close and they’ve put him in there because he is more than likely going to play.”

Should Nathan take his place for his milestone, he’d join long-time halves partner Jarome Luai, who is set to play game 100.

The duo have been playing together since juniors and Ivan said, despite winning back-to-back premierships together, they were “just getting started” with what they could achieve, with Penrith boasting an 11-5 record this season and a tilt at another grand final on offer.

“It‘s kind of cool, funny how it works out,” Cleary said of his halves sharing milestone games.

“They‘re only just getting started really.

“Playing together for so long as kids, they’ve already done a fair bit together.

“Hopefully, there’s a longstanding partnership here at Panthers.”

Jarome Luai (left) and Nathan Cleary (second from left) as Panthers juniors.

Cleary, who watched the Dolphins at Redcliffe, said the NRL newcomers had been a “really good addition to the competition”.

“The town’s buzzing about their team,” he said.

“It‘s a bit like down here (in Penrith); there’s some community spirit about what they’re doing and they’re playing really well.

“There‘s a strong sense of purpose around their team and they don’t beat themselves. We’re going to have to play well.”