By Christian Nicolussi
Penrith are expecting Nathan Cleary to return for week one of the NRL finals, with the star halfback not required to undergo immediate surgery on his shoulder.
The Panthers’s 24-22 to the Storm on Thursday night dealt a huge blow to their minor premiership hopes, but the sight of Cleary clutching at his left shoulder and coming from the field in the 67th minute was an even greater concern.
Cleary underwent an MRI scan late on Thursday then a CAT scan on Friday morning, which cleared him of any serious damage. He was accompanied by his partner, Matildas star Mary Fowler, who attended the game against the Storm and had also been at BlueBet Stadium a couple of weeks earlier for the Panthers’ clash against the Dolphins.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed to this masthead Cleary had subluxed his shoulder when Storm prop Josh King grabbed at the halfback as he laid on the ground. The Panthers had no issues with King’s tackle.
Cleary injured the same shoulder in the pre-season, which forced him to miss three weeks of full-contact training in January. The co-captain also re-aggravated scarring around the labrum.
While not as severe as the injury suffered by Jarome Luai late last season, Cleary knows opposition teams will try to target his shoulder, which is likely to require surgery at the end of the season. He has the option of receiving painkillers before each game when he returns.
Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler on Friday.Credit: Nine News
He is not expected to complete contact work until the week he is due to play, which is about four weeks’ time.
Cleary was clearly distressed after suffering the injury, and opened and closed his hand several times as if to try and regain feeling in his arm.
The halfback dislocated his right shoulder in Origin II in 2021, but returned to steer the Panthers to the first of their three latest premierships before he had surgery.
Cleary was seen in the sheds after the game in deep discussion with his father and coach, Ivan.
Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm celebrates with teammates at full-time.Credit: Getty Images
“He hurt it in the pre-season, he had some trouble with it earlier in the year, and then throughout the hamstring issues – he got on top of it, but it’s a recurrence tonight,” Cleary snr said.
“We’re concerned. It was bad enough for him to come off. He explained how he felt and what happened the best he could. I was checking in on him [after the game] more than anything.
“He’s in better shape than he was when he did his hammy. Hopefully that’s good news. What do you do? It’s one of those years I think [for him].”
Cleary had only been back in action a month after suffering a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly three months.
Jack Cole came into the halves once Cleary departed, and will be the back-up option should Cleary be out in the coming weeks.
James Fisher-Harris was placed on report for a late hit on Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes that led to the penalty that allowed the Storm kick a penalty goal and reclaim the lead they maintained for the final seven minutes.
There was plenty of drama between the two genuine heavyweights, including the sin-binning of Nelson Asofa-Solomona in the 55th minute. Referee Ashley Klein sent Asofa-Solomona for a break for hitting Daine Laurie in the back of the head with “moderate force”.
Asofa-Solomona managed to wipe out teammate Cam Munster in the same tackle. Munster stayed down and bled from the nose, and despite appearing to stumble when he returned to his feet, was cleared to return.
Melbourne kicked two wins clear of the Panthers and locked up a top-two finish with three rounds remaining.
Coach Craig Bellamy confirmed he was now likely to rest players in the final couple of rounds against North Queensland and Broncos, who are both in the finals fight.
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