Penrith look to have avoided disaster after Nathan Cleary exited their blockbuster Round 24 match against the Storm with a shoulder injury.
The reigning Clive Churchill Medal winner will miss time, but the team remains optimistic about his return as they chase a fourth straight premiership.
The Sporting News has the latest updates on the star halfback's condition.
NRL NEWS: 2024 NRL live ladder | Every NRL club's updated injury list | Every NRL fixture and result for each club
Nathan Cleary injury: Latest updates, news
Nathan Cleary is set to avoid surgery on his injured shoulder, with the team confirming that it is a reaggravation of an existing issue that the Penrith captain suffered earlier in the year.
While he is set for some more time on the sidelined, the Panthers have indicated that they plan on having him return for the finals.
"Scans today confirmed that Nathan experienced a recurrence of the shoulder instability he had earlier in the year," the club said in a statement on Friday.
"The scans indicate that he has avoided immediate surgery. The positive outcome is that the club plans to have Nathan available for the NRL Finals."
During a physical and back-and-forth clash at BlueBet Stadium on Thursday night, Cleary got up from a relatively innocuous tackle to play the ball before grimacing and clutching his left shoulder.
He was brought from the field with 13 minutes to play and did not return, as the Panthers fell to Melbourne 24-22.
Watch the incident below:
Cleary has left the field with a shoulder injury. 😲
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) August 15, 2024
📺 Watch #NRLPanthersStorm on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/B1ijnGXtqA
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/n4s17OSMSU
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/S6cFQqtpmD pic.twitter.com/AzFZELFBsV
Cleary had only recently made his return from a hamstring injury which had kept him sidelined since Round 10.
He was seen in the sheds post-match with heavy strapping and ice.
It is a different shoulder to the one Cleary had surgery on in 2021.
Who will replace Nathan Cleary at halfback?
With Cleary set to miss time with injury, Penrith are well-equipped to manage without their star playmaker.
When he has been unavailable this season, Jack Cole or Brad Schneider have been brought into the halves to partner Jarome Luai.
Luai has played at both five-eighth and halfback this year.
Penrith Panthers record without Nathan Cleary in 2024
Cleary has missed 11 of the Panthers' 21 matches this season.
Of those games, Penrith have picked up seven wins.
In the 10 matches where Cleary has played, they have recorded eight wins.
Their only losses with Cleary have been against the Storm.
Panthers results without Nathan Cleary this season
| Round | Fixture and result |
| 4 | Sydney Roosters 16 def. by Penrith Panthers 22 |
| 5 | Manly Sea Eagles 32 def. Penrith Panthers 18 |
| 7 | Penrith Panthers 22 def. Wests Tigers 6 |
| 9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 def. by Penrith Panthers 42 |
| 11 | New Zealand Warriors 22 def. Penrith Panthers 20 |
| 12 | Cronulla Sharks 0 def. by Penrith Panthers 42 |
| 13 | Penrith Panthers 10. def. by St George Illawarra Dragons 22 |
| 14 | Penrith Panthers 32 def. Manly Sea Eagles 22 |
| 15 | Newcastle Knights 18 def. by Penrith Panthers 26 |
| 17 | Penrith Panthers 6 def. by North Queensland Cowboys 16 |
| 18 | Brisbane Broncos 6 def. by Penrith Panthers 14 |
