- Nathan Cleary compliments young fan on her Panthers dress
- Cheeky young supporter tells halfback to carry it
- The Panthers captain and the footy fans all laughed at the comment
Facing abuse from rival footy fans is hard enough, but being ridiculed by your own supporters is something else entirely – just ask superstar Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary.
After an open training session at the weekend, Cleary volunteered his time to take some photos and sign some football memorabilia for young fans.
In a video clip shared by the club, the shirtless halfback can be seen walking towards a group of young Panthers diehards.
“Someone’s getting a little emotional,” said the mother of a girl wearing a pink Panthers dress.
Cleary burst out laughing after a young fan suggested he wear a dress
‘She’s sleeping in. She wrote you a letter and forgot it.’
Cleary tells the girl not to worry before complimenting the youngster on her supporters kit.
“I love that dress,” Cleary said. ‘Very good.’
Before the girl can respond, another young footy fan arrives.
“You should probably wear it at some point,” he tells Cleary.
The group of supporters, including two-time Clive Churchill Medal winner, burst into laughter at the comment.
The Panthers captain is currently struggling to recover from a hamstring injury and is reportedly racing against the clock to be fit for the match against the Tigers in Bathurst next week.
He was tipped to return for the match, but the Herald has reported that Cleary is still a few weeks away from returning.
The Panthers playmaker is currently recovering from a hamstring injury sustained against the Brisbane Broncos (pictured)
Some reports suggest that recovery from the injury may take longer than initially estimated
Cleary suffered a hamstring injury during the Broncos’ grand final earlier this season.
“I’m not sure if it was last week or how long ago but there was a little bit of a setback but I’m not sure where that is in terms of his return to play,” said Penrith full-back Dylan Edwards. .
“When he’s ready, he’ll be ready. He’s not one to sit out an extra week when he’s ready. That said, hammies are tricky, so you need to make sure it’s done before you’re ready to go.
“Our medical staff is second to none, and he is known for being as diligent as anyone when it comes to his rehabilitation.”