Eels lose Mitchell Moses for two months as Panthers suffer Cleary injury blow

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses faces an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a broken foot in the win over Manly on Sunday.

Parramatta sent Moses for scans on Monday to determine the length of his time on the sideline. Surgery was scheduled for Monday night and the Eels are hopeful Moses could be back in two months. The club is confident the worst-case scenario is 10 weeks.

The Eels confirmed the news on Monday evening. “Mitch Moses has suffered a fracture to his left foot and will require surgery. He will be out for up to eight weeks,” a Parramatta spokesperson said.

The injury occurred when Mitchell was tackled late in the second half. He hobbled back to his feet and finished the game but struggled to walk after full-time.

The bad news for Moses comes as the Panthers have also suffered a huge blow with Nathan Cleary to be ruled out of the blockbuster against the Roosters with a hamstring injury.

Cleary, who left the field with nine minutes remaining of their thumping win over the Broncos in the grand final rematch, will miss the clash against a fellow premiership heavyweight at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.

Mitchell Moses scores a try against Manly.Credit: Getty

It’s the second time in as many years Cleary has suffered a hamstring problem after missing the final two matches of last year’s State of Origin series.

Brad Schneider was a late withdrawal from the Panthers’ NSW Cup match with the Bulldogs on Saturday and could make his club debut.

The Panthers are hoping Cleary’s injury is not on the serious side, and he will only miss minimal matches. They play the Sea Eagles after the Roosters clash before having a bye in round six.

But the loss of the NRL’s best player, who mesmerised the Broncos in a five-star display last week, will be a big one for the three-time defending champions after back-to-back wins against the Eels and Brisbane.

The Roosters, meanwhile, will welcome back Luke Keary from the 11-day concussion stand down protocol. He will be paired with Sam Walker, who had a category one concussion assessment in the Roosters’ thumping win over South Sydney downgraded on appeal.

Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Credit: Getty

Jarome Luai is expected to take on primary playmaking duties with Cleary on the sidelines.

It was a double blow for Penrith on Monday with back-rower Scott Sorensen out for a month with a knee injury.

The New Zealand international has only played two matches after being held out of the World Club Challenge and opening-round loss to Melbourne, with the back row an area of concern for the Panthers.

Nathan Cleary showed no immediate signs of the hamstring injury when he did a full suite of post-match interviews and a press conference following their convincing win against Brisbane.

The news will be of concern to NSW State of Origin coach Michael Maguire given Cleary’s hamstring woes in the past 12 months as he plots a Blues revival.

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