LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Nathan Cleary has announced that he will not be participating in the Panthers' match against the Bulldogs on Thursday night. The news has raised concerns from former NRL player Joel Caine, who has proposed a troubling theory suggesting that Cleary may have been playing while injured in recent weeks.
On Monday afternoon, reports surfaced indicating that Cleary was being rested for the upcoming high-profile game against the Bulldogs. Several other key players from the Panthers are also expected to sit out. During an appearance on '100% Footy' on Channel 9, Cleary confirmed his absence, stating, "I won't be playing this week. I just had a chat to the performance staff and thought it'd be the best thing for me. We'll find out the rest of the team tomorrow. We had a day off today and will be back into training tomorrow (Tuesday)."
With Cleary resting, Brad Schneider is anticipated to step in as halfback, especially after he didn't play in the NSW Cup last weekend-a sign that Cleary's rest was forthcoming. Additionally, Paul Alamoti and Matt Eisenhuth were pulled from the Panthers' NSW Cup game, indicating they are likely to take the field for the first-grade match against the Bulldogs.
Brian To'o has also been dealing with some minor injuries, making him another candidate for rest. Co-captain Isaah Yeo has only recently returned from a shoulder injury, which may factor into the team's decision-making. Fullback Dylan Edwards, who has had a demanding season filled with State of Origin matches, might benefit from a break, especially after his recent performances where he committed three errors in back-to-back games.
The Panthers appear to be minimizing their focus on securing a home final spot. A loss against the Bulldogs could essentially eliminate their chances of finishing fifth or sixth in the NRL standings, which would offer them a home match in the first week of finals. However, the situation is somewhat less critical this year since their home games are now held at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, diminishing the significance of home-field advantage compared to previous seasons.
On Monday afternoon, Caine expressed his concerns on SEN radio, speculating whether Cleary has been playing with an injury. He highlighted some worrying numbers around Cleary's defence in the past weeks and raised the possibility that he may be experiencing a shoulder injury.