The Penrith Panthers are confident star halfback Nathan Cleary will return in time to face the Bulldogs in Round 17, despite suffering a groin injury just a day before State of Origin Game 2.
The injury, sustained during a training session on Tuesday, was kept under wraps until after the match, leaving commentators and fans stunned by his limited involvement in the first half.
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During the Origin clash in Perth, Cleary appeared unusually hesitant, avoiding long kicks and leaving much of the kicking duties to teammates Zac Lomax and others. Despite rallying in the second half to assume more responsibility, Cleary’s efforts couldn’t prevent a NSW defeat.
The mystery surrounding his subdued performance deepened when he was seen with a compression bandage on his right leg, prompting Queensland legend Cameron Smith to remark during commentary:
“I don’t think he’s been right all night.”
Coach Laurie Daley later confirmed Cleary had been dealing with groin tightness during the captain’s run but remained determined to play through it.
“He just felt a bit tight in his groin, so we wanted to limit the amount of force he put in there. He is a tough kid,” Daley explained.
The Daily Telegraph revealed that the Panthers were not initially aware of the injury, as it was not disclosed until just 90 minutes before kickoff. Nevertheless, the club now expects Cleary to be available next week, following rest and recovery.
In the meantime, Cleary, along with Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, and Brian To’o, will sit out this weekend’s match against the New Zealand Warriors due to the extensive travel from Perth. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary voiced his frustration over the NRL’s scheduling, calling it “unfair” that Origin players were essentially ruled out of the Saturday fixture.
“We should be able to make that decision. Through flights, we just can’t get them there,” he said.
With a second-string side set to take on the Warriors, the Panthers face steep odds. However, their sights remain set on the pivotal Round 17 showdown with the Bulldogs, with Nathan Cleary expected to lead the charge as Penrith fights to stay in finals contention after rising from the bottom of the ladder to ninth.
