An injury to Nathan Cleary was the big news from Penrith’s Round 10 win over the Bulldogs. It has big repercussions for the Panthers and also New South Wales. One positive is that it gives a opportunity to young half Jack Cole. He’s been tipped as the natural successor for Jarome Luai and with another reserve half Brad Schneider also picking up an injury he’s set to see a fair bit of 1st Grade action. Cole told Andrew Moore and team he’s been loving being around top quality players and trying to improve his game.
They are the undoubted yardstick of the NRL – but Panthers staff, players and fans were left cursing their luck on Friday following injuries to halfbacks Nathan Cleary and fill-in Brad Schneider.
While Cleary tweaking his hamstring could prove to be dire 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 pretty shattered actually, it’s very disappointing for him. Obviously I’m torn between being his coach and his Dad right now,’ the Panthers coach said in the post-match press conference.
‘I thought in that first half he was really starting to come into his own. But yeah anyway, the show goes on.
Scans will determine the severity of Cleary’s hamstring complaint – and his coach is bracing himself for bad news.
He also wouldn’t rule out sending the playmaker abroad to work with US based rehab expert Bill Knowles.
‘It’s a concern yes, but I’m not qualified to make certain [medical] judgements,’ Cleary said.
‘We will treat it on its merits and go from there.’