Advertisement

Nathan Cleary in possible 'fracture' reveal in worrying development before NRL grand final

The Penrith Panthers halfback has been playing with multiple injuries.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

Nathan Cleary has dismissed concerns over his shoulder after appearing to tweak it on Saturday night, but questions have emerged about a second injury he appeared to be playing with. Cleary was at his brilliant best as the Panthers advanced to the NRL grand final with a 26-6 win over Cronulla.

But the Panthers sparked concerns when they took Cleary from the field with five minutes remaining after he grabbed at his troublesome shoulder after a tackle. The star halfback has since claimed there's nothing to worry about, but mystery surrounds the extent of another injury he's been carrying.

Nathan Cleary, pictured here with heavy strapping and padding on his right hand.
Mystery surrounds why Nathan Cleary was playing with such heavy strapping and padding on his right hand. Image: Getty

Cleary was seen wearing heavy strapping and padding on his right hand on Saturday night - a completely new issue that hasn't been seen before. Commentators didn't make much of it, and Cleary didn't appear hampered as he laid on three try assists in a brilliant display.

But the extent of the strapping and padding on Cleary's hand led 'NRL Physio' Brien Seeney to speculate whether it's fractured. Seeney wrote on Twitter on Saturday night: "Has there been any reporting on Nathan Cleary’s hand this week? Fair chunk of strapping/padding - wouldn’t be surprised if he’s playing through a fracture of some sort. Especially with Penrith the experts at a finals injury smother."

Nathan Cleary after the Panthers beat the Sharks to advance to the NRL grand final.
Nathan Cleary played down concerns after the Panthers beat the Sharks. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Another person noted that Cleary was guarding his hand when trying to stand up after tweaking his shoulder. "Definitely got something going on," they wrote. "Have a look at the footage of the tackle in this game vs Sharks when he looks to have hurt his shoulder at the end of the game. Look how he uses that hand to get up off the ground. He can’t open the fingers and press up. That’s surely a break."

The hand and shoulder issues are highly unlikely to keep Cleary from playing in a fifth-straight grand final. But the Panthers will be up against it if Cleary isn't 100 per cent fit against a rampaging Melbourne Storm outfit. Cleary got away with it against the Sharks on Saturday night, but it might be a different story against the higher calibre Storm side.

RELATED:

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Cleary dismissed concerns over his shoulder. "It's all good, it was just a bit of a knock," he said. "It was always going to be one of things where I wasn't at 100 per cent.

"I definitely felt confident to go back out on the field and play ... I wasn't even thinking about it. Even after that little incident, I played the next two sets and was sweet."

But Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane noted it was the first time this finals series that Cleary was visibly pained by his shoulder. The halfback dislocated it against the Storm back in Round 24, but has been playing through the pain in the finals after sitting out for three weeks to rest it.

“Cleary in a little bit of trouble," Ginnane said. "The first time we have seen that tonight. For the first time in this finals series Nathan Cleary is troubled by that shoulder injury.”

Cooper Cronk added: “With a shoulder injury like that, whenever it is extended like that on the outside of the body, that is when it can pop back out. The fact that he had to do a reaching tackle and reached out and extended.”