Nathan Cleary suffers broken leg as Knights shock Panthers to reach NRL grand final
NRL star Nathan Cleary suffered a compound fracture of his ankle and a broken foot during the Penrith Panthers' loss to the Newcastle Knights. The injury, compounded by several other player injuries, has raised concerns about the team's future and the upcoming World Cup.
Why it matters
The injury of a high-profile athlete significantly impacts the competitive landscape of professional rugby league and national team prospects.
Nathan Cleary will require surgery on both feet, with his father Ivan revealing the superstar halfback had been playing on a broken right foot before suffering a compound fracture of his left ankle.
In the gruesome aftermath to the Panthers' 22-14 preliminary final loss to Newcastle, it was revealed Dylan Edwards played through a ruptured PCL, Isaah Yeo a ruptured pec, and Blaize Talagi came off with an Achilles rupture.
The injuries ultimately cursed the Panthers, who led the Knights 14-6 at half-time, and will likely have long-term ramifications for Australia in the end-of-season World Cup.
Penrith had hoped to get Cleary through Sunday's game unscathed after keeping him and his injured right foot on the bench for the opening 25 minutes.
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