Panthers star Nathan Cleary left his side’s loss to the Storm late in the second half with a concerning shoulder injury.
Cleary grimaced in pain after being tackled and looked in obvious discomfort, favouring his left shoulder.
“Shoulder injury for Nathan Cleary, hang on a second,” Andrew Voss said.
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“This is not good. He has that shoulder strapped, and with pain like that, something has happened. He’s in a lot of discomfort and he knows it” Cooper Cronk added in commentary.
The Penrith medical staff quickly called for a sub, and Cleary walked off striking a dejected figure, heading straight into the sheds.
“He’s only played ten games this year. It’s been hamstrings the issue and now he will come off. The crowd is stunned. Their main man is off and you’re left to wonder,” Voss said.
Three years ago, Cleary had surgery on his right shoulder, with Fox League’s Jake Duke confirming that the Penrith half injured his other shoulder.
“He’s quite devastated in the sheds,” Duke said.
“What I can say is it is a different shoulder to the shoulder he had surgery on (in 2021).
“We’ll have to wait for scans in the next couple of days.”
Fox League’s Greg Alexander believes Cleary’s dislocated his shoulder.
“Well the shoulder’s come out. He’s dislocated his shoulder,” Alexander said.
“There’s severity rankings from 1-10 to how bad it is. If it’s come out and stayed out, what ligament damage there is to it.
“He would be devastated.”
UPDATE ON BRONCOS STAR DUO
Brisbane’s star duo Payne Haas and Reece Walsh may return from injury before the end of the season the Broncos have revealed.
Haas picked up a Lisfranc injury against the Titans in Round 22 and it was initially believed he’d miss the rest of the regular season, but with the Broncos still hanging onto a finals spot after the win over the Cowboys, the gun prop could return late in the season.
Walsh meanwhile, toughed it out and played through a hand fracture he suffered in the first half of the Cowboys win.
Walsh is set to have surgery on his hand this week according to Broncos Head of Performance David Ballard.
“Reece will have surgery on his hand this week with a return date dependant on how he recovers,” Ballard said via a club-issued statement.
“Payne had a positive result from his testing and will now move into a more intensive training program.
“Both Reece and Payne will approach their rehab with a view to returning this season.”
Following this weekend’s bye, the Broncos have three games left to try and earn an unlikely top eight spot.
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TIGERS GUN SHUT DOWN FOR SEASON
The Wests Tigers season from hell has received another harpoon with star fullback Jahream Bula expected to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Daily Telegraph reports the 22-year-old was sent for surgery on Thursday for repairs to his labrum which required arthroscopic repair.
Bula was seen clutching at his shoulder in Sunday’s 34-18 loss to the Knights.
He is expected to be sidelined for up to three months with the No.1 to be in a sling for six weeks.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall will likely opt to bring in rookie Heath Mason as his replacement, while Adam Doueihi is also an option.
Bula has made 21 appearances for the Tigers this year, scoring 10 tries, after debuting for the club in Round 8 against Manly in 2023.
The Tigers are on track to claim their third successive wooden spoon after winning just four games this season.
INJURED IN ROUND 24
Nathan Cleary (shoulder – TBC)
Source Agencies
