Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has revealed his son and superstar halfback Nathan Cleary is “shattered” after re-injuring a hamstring that has hampered him since Round 3.
The 26-year-old returned to the field against the Cowboys in Round 8, but once again sat out against the Rabbitohs last week due to the short turnaround.
Cleary then took the field against the Bulldogs and looked dominant, showing why he will be one of the first names on Michael Maguire’s Blues’ team sheet if fit.
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However, after attempting to sprint for a kick, Cleary pulled up lame and walked straight down the tunnel, being replaced by young gun Jack Cole.
“He’s pretty shattered actually, it’s very disappointing for him. Obviously I’m torn between (being) his coach and his Dad right now,” the Panthers coach said in the post-match press conference.
“So yeah, it’s very disappointing. I thought in that first half he was really starting to come into his own. But yeah anyway, the show goes on.
“He needs to get a scan and see the damage and then we will go from there… he sort of did it sprinting on a kick and diving.
“He felt it straight away so he knew, that would suggest it’s decent.”
Cleary made it clear that his halfback was fully fit and ready to take the field against the Bulldogs, showing no signs of being hampered in training.
“It hasn’t been a problem, he came back played against the Cowboys, he didn’t play last week because there was the five-day turnaround and it was a bit sore,” he said.
“It was always a part of the threat of travelling and then, he basically has done every session for two weeks without an drama.
“Obviously he’s done it again so that’s a problem but it hasn’t been an ongoing thing.”
Cleary leaves field with injury | 01:09
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Several NRL stars have previously travelled to the United States, with Latrell Mitchell, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Tom Trbojevic all working with rehab expert Bill Knowles.
Cleary was asked if the Panthers might consider shipping their marquee man abroad if the injury persists.
“I’m very confident in our medical department, they’ve been very good for a long period of time,” Cleary said.
“It’s a concern yes, but I’m not qualified to make certain judgements. He came back a little bit longer than we expected.
“But again, with hamstrings it’s not unusual and then there was no issue around why he didn’t play last week. If it was fairly usual.
“But we will treat it on its merits and go from there.”
Cleary was also asked about the club missing out on the signing of Titans star David Fifita, and he was short in response saying: “no, not tonight. Thanks”.
Source Agencies
