The Penrith Panthers now face a difficult decision following Nathan Cleary’s stress-related foot injury sustained during Sunday’s 19-12 victory over the Sydney Roosters. Club officials announced Cleary will undergo a two-week rest period under observation before the finals restart, forcing the team to choose between preserving his fitness or risking his absence in the preliminary final.
Cleary’s injury creates additional challenges for a squad already managing a packed finals calendar. His unavailability would force Penrith to depend on a rotation among Jarome Luai, Jack Cogger, and Blaize Talagi—a plan former NRL star Corey Parker dismissed as inadequate. Speaking on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters: Rugby League, Parker rejected the idea that Penrith could win without Cleary. “No, no, no,” he said when quizzed if Penrith can win the title without Cleary. “I think to win competitions, they’re hard enough as it is.
You need your best players. And he’s certainly the world’s best player. I think they could probably cover for Nathan Cleary to some degree. When you’re talking clutch moments, and we’ve seen him do it time in and time out. I think he has to be in that football side.”
Former NRL half Luke Keary echoed this view, acknowledging while Luai is a capable alternative, Penrith lacks sufficient depth at halfback. “I think if Jarome Luai is there, it’s a different story. But they’ve rotated (Jack) Cogger in, (Blaize) Talagi, Jack Cole,” he added. “It’s a huge call. I don’t think he can carry the two positions. They need Nathan.”
Cleary’s situation follows a pattern of key players enduring severe injuries to chase premiership glory. In 2018, Cooper Cronk competed in the Grand Final despite a 15-centimeter broken scapula, relying on pain medication to help the Sydney Roosters defeat the Melbourne Storm. Similarly, Sam Burgess played through a fractured cheekbone and orbital socket in the 2014 Grand Final, delivering a standout performance as his team secured its first premiership in 43 years.
The Panthers will keep Cleary on the bench while other teams compete in this weekend’s sudden-death semifinals. The match winner will advance to face Penrith in the preliminary final, where Cleary’s readiness, currently uncertain, will dictate whether the team reaches the Grand Final. His potential return remains unclear, but his absence would fundamentally alter Penrith’s championship prospects.