Nathan Cleary's foot injury has raised concerns ahead of the NRL finals, with coach Ivan Cleary revealing it's related to "the impact of overuse."
After the Panthers' victory over the Roosters, the team announced that the halfback had "sustained a stress-related bone issue in his foot."
However, they did not specify whether this injury includes a stress fracture. Following the match, Nathan was visibly limping, unable to perform a conversion after a late field goal.
In a radio interview with SEN, Ivan explained the extent of the issue. "He kicks a lot. Does a lot. Runs a lot... It all adds up," he stated.
The coach acknowledged that this injury would impede Nathan's preparations for the upcoming preliminary final. 'He's actually prioritising actual kicking time,' Ivan noted, adding that mental preparation would be crucial.
The star player is scheduled to take a week off for recovery, which Ivan described as a "God send." This situation echoes fullback Dylan Edwards' experience in 2021, when he played through a stress fracture.
NRL Physio Brien Seeney commented on the potential severity of the injury, noting a stress fracture could sideline a player for 1-2 months under normal conditions.
He emphasized the unique circumstances of finals time, suggesting that if Nathan does have a fracture, "A fracture in some bones in the foot would make it near impossible to run, kick and change direction."
As the Panthers gear up for the crucial match, the next two weeks will involve significant adjustments to get Nathan ready for action.