Dylan Edwards and Blaize Talagi in fresh setback as Panthers face Nathan Cleary dilemma
Cleary, Edwards and Talagi are all racing the clock to be fit for Penrith's round one Las Vegas clash.
Dylan Edwards could miss Penrith's trip to Las Vegas to kick off the Panthers' 2025 campaign after going under the knife less than 48 hours after helping Australia win the Pacific Championships final against Tonga. Edwards has been battling a persistent shoulder injury throughout Penrith's 2024 season. And the Sydney Morning Herald reports the fullback underwent Latarjet surgery on Tuesday, the same procedure Nathan Cleary had done and by the same surgeon that operated on the star halfback.
The operation involved a bone graft being attached to the front of the shoulder joint, which is aimed to help stabilise the shoulder. Penrith’s medical team have been managing Edwards' pain for a large part of the year. But after having fresh scans on Monday, it was decided that the 28-year-old would go under the knife the following day.
Recovery time from the Latarjet procedure is 14 to 16 weeks, putting both Cleary and Edwards in doubt for the Panthers' Las Vegas season opener, which kicks off on Saturday, March 1 (Sunday, AEDT) in 15 weeks time. Edwards' shoulder injury was a closely guarded secret, with even Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga stating he didn't even know about the extent of the injury until two days before the Pacific Championships final.
"He doesn’t complain, I know he’s had a crook shoulder, but I wasn’t aware he needed surgery," Meninga told SMH ahead of the game against Tonga. "He’s the ultimate professional, he’s been great around the group, and when he talks, you listen. He’s found his sense of belonging in this team." Penrith expect Edwards and Cleary to be ready for Las Vegas but the reality is if they are not 100 per cent it is unlikely that the Panthers will risk them with such a long season ahead.
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Ivan Cleary facing Panthers halves crisis
Meanwhile, the Panthers' plan to start the 2025 NRL season with Blaize Talagi and Cleary in the halves is in serious doubt and not just because of Cleary recovering from surgery, with Talagi also racing the clock to be fit for round one. In a fresh blow to Ivan Cleary ahead of the new campaign, Talagi needed surgery on a shoulder injury he suffered on international duty with Samoa.
The Daily Telegraph reports the NRL young gun required a clean out of his shoulder and will miss most if not all of the Panthers pre-season and is understood to be far from a guaranteed starter in round 1. The injury to Talagi has also thrust where he will play in 2025 into doubt, with Cleary understood to have originally planned to deploy the Eels recruit in the halves with his son.
But after he endured a brutal night at five-eighth for Samoa doubt had already crept in about whether the role is right for him at this stage of his NRL career. Talagi made 16 tackles but missed seven in Samoa's second defeat to England.
He also made another bad read that led to another Herbie Farnworth try and also made two errors in the 20 minutes of the game. And with the new recruit now set to be touch and go for the season opener, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary may ultimately decide to cut his losses and either go with Daine Laurie, Jack Cole or Brad Schneider as the club's new No.6, with the trio all fit and back at pre-season training.
