There’s some potential good news for the Panthers – Nathan Cleary, the key player who was initially feared to be out for a significant period due to a hamstring injury, may be ready for game action sooner than anticipated, possibly by next week.
Cleary was sidelined during their victory over Brisbane. He had previously experienced a severe hamstring injury, incurring it on the opposite leg, which resulted in him missing the final pair of State of Origin matches. However, this injury is reported to be less severe and might even give him the needed break to finally recover from an ongoing foot issue that’s been a cause of concern.
While the Panthers are pitted against the Roosters this Thursday, Nathan stands a chance to get back on the field next week versus Manly or after the round 6 bye.
“Injuries can be unpredictable and are just part of the sport,” said Coach Ivan Cleary, adding light-heartedly that Nathan seems to have an annual injury leave. However, he was optimistic since the injury isn’t as severe as last year’s. “The good news is he caught it early, thanks to his previous experience, and this could result in his absence only lasting a couple of weeks.”
The player’s potential early return is a silver lining in the Panthers’
Priyam Gera