NRL 2024: Nathan Cleary set for Latarjet surgery on injured shoulder, Panthers back star halfback to recover in time for Las Vegas

Nathan Cleary is set to go under the knife in early November for the same surgery that ruled him out of the opening month of the 2022 season, but the Panthers are confident the halfback will be ready in time for Las Vegas.

Penrith champion Nathan Cleary will go under the knife in early November but the club is confident the halfback will be available for the season opener in Las Vegas.

Cleary carried a shoulder injury during the finals series but off-season surgery was delayed because the surgeon who was set to perform the Latarjet procedure, which involves a bone graft to stabilise the shoulder joint, is away on holiday.

The four-time premiership winner has been holidaying in Europe with girlfriend and Matildas star Mary Fowler while waiting to go under the knife.

The sporting power couple have been in Switzerland hiking the Seealpsee – a scenic alpine lake. Fowler was also in Switzerland for a Matildas camp in preparation for an international friendly match.

It’s not the first time Cleary has had the Latarjet surgery. He missed the first three rounds of the 2022 season after he had the same procedure in late 2021.

But Penrith medical staff are confident Cleary won’t miss any game time in 2025 given the injury to his left shoulder is not as serious this time around.

Nathan Cleary is set for Latarjet surgery on his injured shoulder. Picture: NRL Photos

The latest surgery will still require around three months of rehabilitation but he’ll return to the training paddock in January, when he’ll begin no contact training drills.

The surgery will also limit the time that Cleary has to work on his new halves combination with former Parramatta young gun Blaize Talagi – who is the frontrunner to replace Wests Tigers bound Jarome Luai at five-eighth in 2025.

Brad Schneider and Jack Cole are also in the mix to replace Luai.

If Cleary is not given the green light to take on Cronulla in Las Vegas, coach Ivan Cleary will be forced to field an entirely new-look halves combination with Schneider likely to line-up in the no.7 jumper in round one at Allegiant Stadium.

The Panthers are backing cleary to be ready for round one in Vegas. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Coach Cleary is also facing life without enforcer James Fisher-Harris, who will join the Warriors next season.

Rising prop Lindsay Smith, who was rewarded with Test selection for the Kangaroos for the Pacific Championships, is the frontrunner for the starting front row spot vacated by Fisher-Harris.

It leaves the likes of Matt Eisenhuth and boom rookie forward Luron Patea in a pre-season battle for a spot on the bench in 2025.

Hardman Liam Martin is managing an AC joint injury that he carried for most of the year but did not need surgery and isn’t expected to have an interrupted pre-season. Youngster Liam Henry had shoulder surgery after the grand final and will be managed back into full-training once he commences pre-season in December.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Nathan Cleary set for Latarjet surgery on injured shoulder, Panthers back star halfback to recover in time for Las Vegas