NRL superstar Nathan Cleary in fitness race ahead of Las Vegas opener

Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary will race against time to be fit for Penrith’s season opener in Las Vegas, although his club are confident he will play.

The NRL star flew to Britain to spend time with Mary Fowler, fresh from leading Penrith to their fourth consecutive NRL premiership.

However, Cleary is expected to leave her side in the coming week to return to Australia to undergo surgery on his shoulder.

The Panthers playmaker could not go under the knife immediately after the NRL decider because the surgeon was on annual leave.

The surgery, a Latarjet procedure, is expected to require three months of rehabilitation, but he is still expected to return to training with the team in January, reports News Corp.

Cleary had the same procedure at the end of 2021, but did not return to the field until round four of 2022.

Last week, Cleary shared some photos of himself in a pair of blue parakeet smugglers as he waded into a lake surrounded by breathtaking mountains in Switzerland.

Cleary will have to spend a few months on the sidelines to recover, but his club is confident he will be ready for the season opener

The footy star is clearly enjoying his European holiday with girlfriend Mary Fowler.

The couple were first pictured at Old Trafford watching the Super League Grand Final as Wigan claimed victory over Hull Kingston Rovers.

At half-time, Cleary was invited onto the field for an interview with Sky Sports Rugby League, where he poured cold water on rumors he was moving to Europe to be closer to girlfriend Fowler.

“Not that fast, to be honest,” Cleary said.

‘I’ve seen all the rumours. But come over here and visit her [Mary] play, which is fun, and take a break. But [I] I won’t be moving here anytime soon.”

However, Cleary appears to have enjoyed his visit to Fowler, with the pair also exploring Manchester’s Northern Quarter.