- Cleary is likely to miss the entire State of Origin series
- Panthers halfback has a grade two hamstring tear
- Will be on the sidelines for at least eight weeks
NSW halfback Nathan Cleary is likely to miss the entire State of Origin series after scans confirmed a grade two hamstring injury that will sideline him for eight weeks.
Champion playmaker Penrith re-injured his right hamstring during Penrith’s 16-10 win over Canterbury on Friday evening. This was a devastating blow for the Blues, who have sidelined a number of key players through injury.
Cleary left the field just before half-time after suffering a second hamstring injury in as many months, with the Panthers issuing a statement on Sunday confirming the diagnosis.
“Scans revealed a grade 2 hamstring tear, which will rule Cleary out for eight weeks,” the club said in a statement.
Nathan Cleary is likely to miss the entire State of Origin after suffering a hamstring injury
The champion playmaker has suffered a grade two hamstring injury
It means Cleary will miss Origin I at Accor Stadium in Sydney on June 5 and the second match at the MCG on June 26, while there is no certainty he will be available for game three in Brisbane on July 17.
Cleary would have been a certain selection for new NSW coach Michael Maguire, while another Blues half player Nicho Hynes left Cronulla’s win over Melbourne on Saturday night with a calf injury.
The Sharks said it was more of a precautionary measure and hoped he would be available for their Magic Round match with the Sydney Roosters in Brisbane on Saturday night.
“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess it, but I don’t think it’s significant, so he’s a good bet (for next week),” Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said after the game.
Mitch Moses would normally be the frontrunner to replace two-time Clive Churchill medalist Cleary, but the Parramatta playmaker has his own injury woes.
Moses may return from a foot injury against Melbourne next Sunday, but it is far from certain that he will be able to play.
Meanwhile, Manly and Blues backline gun Tom Trbojevic is also expected to be unavailable for seven weeks due to a hamstring injury.
Cleary will be sidelined for at least eight weeks and is likely to miss all three Origin games
While Cleary’s hamstring adjustment will prove devastating for the NSW Blues ahead of the State of Origin series opener on June 5, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary declared the ‘show goes on.’
‘He’s actually quite devastated, it’s very disappointing for him. Obviously right now I’m torn between his coach and his father,” the Panthers coach said at Friday’s post-game press conference.
“I thought he really started to come into his own in that first half. But hey, whatever, the show goes on.
“He did it like a sprint and dive… “He [then] I felt it immediately, so he knew: that would indicate it was decent.’