Concerns have arisen for the Penrith Panthers as centre Paul Alamoti prepares to undergo scans following a probable hamstring injury suffered during the second half of their match against the Sydney Roosters on Thursday.
This incident marks a setback for the Panthers, who have, for the first time in five months, fallen to second place on the ladder, heightening worries regarding the fitness of their key outside back.
Alamoti was in position to receive a pass in a critical area when he suddenly stopped due to a non-contact movement, quickly indicating his discomfort while clutching the back of his leg.
Following the game, the Panthers coach expressed disappointment in the team's execution during crucial moments, though he also took pride in their performance, which displayed a finals-like intensity.
"I felt like the execution let us down too often, especially at the wrong time," Cleary said in post-game.
"It put us under pressure a lot. I thought we were pretty resilient to stay in the game; we just couldn't put doubt in the opposition."
"I don't think we'll lose any friends tonight. They came up with some huge stops."
This season, Alamoti has been outstanding for the Panthers, consistently posing a threat to opposing outside backs.
With an impressive total of 87 tackle breaks in 2026, he excels in yardage plays, averaging 136 metres per game this year.