Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary confirms shoulder surgery needed after steering team to premiership win

The Penrith captain dragged his battered body through the games that mattered most with a dodgy shoulder after telling his mum exactly what he’d do.

Nathan Cleary told his mum he could get through the three biggest games of the season, including the grand final, knowing the instability in his injured shoulder would force him under the knife in the coming days, ruling him out of the Australian squad that opens the Pacific Championship next Friday.

In the aftermath of Penrith’s fourth-straight grand final win, Cleary wouldn’t reveal the full details of just what was wrong with the shoulder issue he carried through another stunning finals campaign.

The Penrith captain had another fantastic grand final with two try assists, while he ran for more metres than every Storm forward in his side’s gritty 14-6 win as they clinched a fourth title in a row.

This one may have been just a little bit sweeter for Cleary, who played a career-low 13 games this season due to two separate hamstring injuries as well as a shoulder concern on the eve of the finals that kept him out for three weeks.

Four on the trot for coach Ivan and Nathan Cleary. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

He was magnificent throughout the finals, but you could tell how much discomfort he was in, with Cleary coming off late against Cronulla as a precaution after he made a tackle on Kayal Iro that clearly troubled him.

The pain hasn’t been the major issue, with the instability set to force him under the knife in the coming days that will rule him out of the Australian squad that opens the Pacific Championship next Friday.

“I’m not going to go into full details (of what I’ve been through), but it’s been a frustrating year,” he said after the game.

“It was tough and it was annoying, but I had to work hard to get back. Seeing the boys go out there every week, I wanted to repay them.

“The only way I could do that was to work as hard as I could around the clock so I could be here.

“I said to mum that I’ve got to play three games, and that’d be it.

Nathan Cleary’s ‘4 of em’ social media post.

“I knew if I worked hard that I could get back for those three games and be sweet. It worked out.”

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was immensely proud of what his son was able to do this season, declaring his 2024 form was the best of his career despite several setbacks.

“He’s put in so much work and made so many sacrifices just to be able to get back,” the coach said.

“Every time he’s come back he’s played well, and he’s probably played his best footy of his life this year, but we just haven’t had him very often.

“I think that’s testament to how much he felt he probably owed his teammates. Everyone feels terrible when they’re injured.”

Cleary’s influence on this incredible team will resonate long after he’s retired, with co-captain Isaah Yeo honoured to say he got to run out alongside a man who is on track to be the greatest player of all time.

“What he does behind the scenes that you guys don’t see (makes) him the ultimate professional,” the lock forward said.

“He gives himself the best chance available to return, regardless of what’s going on with his injuries.

“I’m super stoked to run out alongside him.

“He won’t look back and go ‘I played with Isaah Yeo’ that much, but when I retire I’ll be able to look back and say that I played with Nathan Cleary and brag to my grandkids about it.”