Penrith Panthers captain Nathan Cleary is racing against time to be fit for his team’s highly anticipated NRL season opener in Las Vegas, following off-season shoulder surgery. With the match against Cronulla scheduled for March 2, Cleary is in a battle to regain full fitness after undergoing the procedure in the wake of the Panthers’ historic fourth consecutive premiership triumph.
While Cleary is making every effort to return in time, concerns remain over his match readiness, particularly after Penrith’s decision to cancel a trial game against the North Sydney Bears, a feeder team for the Melbourne Storm. The scrimmage was intended to provide valuable game time for both Cleary and fullback Dylan Edwards, who also had shoulder surgery during the off-season.
The Panthers were forced to scrap the match after the Storm opted to use several Bears players in their own trial against the Warriors. Penrith head coach Ivan Cleary expressed disappointment at the missed opportunity, telling The Sydney Morning Herald that the imbalance in competition would have been akin to “the grand final winner playing against a Ron Massey team.”
The setback means Cleary may enter the 2025 season without any match practice, increasing concerns about his form and fitness. Having already been sidelined for much of last year due to hamstring issues and his ongoing shoulder troubles, the star halfback now faces an uphill battle to be fully prepared for the demanding NRL campaign.
Despite the uncertainty, Panthers forward Liam Martin remains optimistic about Cleary’s recovery, praising his dedication and work ethic. “He’s back doing full training with us and is coming along well,” Martin said. “He’s doing everything in his power to be right for round one, and hopefully, he’ll be there.”
Martin also highlighted Cleary’s commitment to recovery, crediting his disciplined approach to diet, training, and rehabilitation as key factors in his ability to return quicker than most. “His diligence is second to none,” Martin added. “He doesn’t take shortcuts in his diet, recovery, or sleep. It’s incredible to see.”
Cleary’s availability for the season opener is not the only question facing the Panthers, with uncertainty lingering over who will partner him in the halves following Jarome Luai’s departure to the Wests Tigers. Young recruit Blaize Talagi, who recently joined from Parramatta, has impressed in training and is currently the frontrunner for the No.6 jersey ahead of Brad Schneider and Jack Cole.
With just weeks remaining until the NRL’s historic Las Vegas double-header, all eyes will be on Cleary’s recovery. While his presence would be a significant boost for Penrith, the Panthers may have to make a tough call on whether to risk their star halfback so early in the season.