LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Nathan Cleary, the Panthers halfback, has finally confirmed the long-speculated news after clinching his fourth consecutive NRL premiership.
Cleary, who played through the pain of a shoulder injury sustained seven weeks ago against the Storm, will now undergo immediate surgery, forcing him to miss the upcoming Pacific Championship Test matches for Australia.
Despite missing the final three regular season games to nurse his injury back to playing condition, Cleary managed to power through and contribute to Penrith's successful finals campaign.
However, a minor setback in the preliminary final against Cronulla hinted at the tough road ahead for the talented playmaker.
Nevertheless, Cleary's determination saw him take the field for the NRL grand final, where he confirmed his impending surgery post-match.
This news dashes hopes of seeing him in action for the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Test matches, with rumors circulating for weeks about his availability.
This setback marks the second consecutive year Cleary will miss the Pacific Championships, following last year's absence due to a knee injury sustained in the grand final triumph over the Broncos.
With Cleary out of the mix, Daly Cherry-Evans is poised to continue his stellar run as the Kangaroos' halfback, extending his impressive representative career.