LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Kangaroos are facing another blow with Nathan Cleary unlikely to be fit for the upcoming Pacific Championships, as he is expected to undergo surgery on his troublesome shoulder at the end of the season.
Cleary, a superstar halfback, missed last year's Championships due to a knee injury sustained during a grand final comeback, and now looks set to miss out again due to the nagging shoulder injury that lingered during the finals.
The Panthers player has been sidelined for three games because of the shoulder injury he picked up in round 24, in addition to battling two separate hamstring tears that kept him out of this year's State of Origin series.
If Cleary is indeed ruled out, it will mark a significant absence for the Kangaroos since their victorious 2022 World Cup campaign.
In his absence, Daly Cherry-Evans of Manly is the likely candidate to take on the halfback role in the first match against Tonga on October 18.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary acknowledged the likelihood of surgery for his star player, stating, "It'd be highly likely he'll have surgery, I'd say.
But again, we'll just get through what we need to do and weigh up the risks and options." Meanwhile, Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards is also in contention for the Australian fullback position, following the news that Kalyn Ponga of Newcastle has made himself unavailable for selection.