LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a surprising twist of events, Nathan Cleary has been ruled out of the Panthers' clash against the Rabbitohs, leaving NRL fans in disbelief.
The New South Wales halfback, who has had a tumultuous season, will not take the field on Thursday night.
Interim South Sydney coach Ben Hornby wasted no time in shaking things up after taking over the reins just 24 hours ago.
Cleary made his long-awaited return to the field in a hard-fought victory against the Cowboys last week, but it seems the quick turnaround has taken a toll on him.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has opted to play Brad Schneider at halfback, giving Cleary more time to recover and avoid any further injury setbacks.
With State of Origin looming on the horizon, Cleary is being carefully managed to prevent a recurrence of last year's hamstring troubles.
As Penrith looks to maintain their winning momentum, they are placing their confidence in Schneider to step up in Cleary's absence.
Meanwhile, Jack Cole is set to make his mark off the bench and showcase his potential as the future No.6 for the Panthers.
With Luai's impending departure to the Tigers, Cole has the opportunity to make the five-eighth position his own.
Despite the changes in both teams, Penrith remains optimistic as they prepare to take on the Rabbitohs at Stadium Australia.
The new-look South Sydney side under Hornby's guidance will be looking to turn their season around, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated matchup.