Cleary Updates on Panthers' Injury Concerns Following Semi-Final Victory

Penrith Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary has confirmed that both Liam Martin and Casey McLean are expected to be fit for their upcoming match against the Brisbane Broncos.

The Panthers delivered a decisive performance against the Bulldogs in the second semi-final held at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon, but the win raised some concerns regarding player injuries.

Liam Martin, a forward for the New South Wales Blues State of Origin team, exited the game in the second half due to what appeared to be a shoulder injury that has affected him previously this season.

He was quickly taken to the dressing room for evaluation, where he was spotted hunched over in the tunnel. Thankfully, he later made his way back to the bench. Cleary clarified that the situation was more about being winded than a serious injury.

"Marto is okay. He just got crunched by Kikau and is more winded than anything," the Panthers coach mentioned during his post-match press conference.

Meanwhile, McLean also had to leave the field late in the game, but Cleary reassured fans that a potential hip injury is not a major concern, and there are no issues with the outside back's shoulder.

"Casey has a bit of a hip pointer. He thinks it's fine, but hopefully he will be alright," the coach added.