GREAT NEWS: Nathan Cleary has encountered a setback in his recovery from injury.

Penrith Panthers’ key player and captain, Nathan Cleary, has experienced a setback in his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Nathan Cleary remains a couple of weeks away from returning to play and is in a race against time to be ready for the match against the Wests Tigers in Bathurst next week. This delay in his return is due to slower than expected progress in his recovery. Instead, Cleary is set to make his comeback in the following round against the North Queensland Cowboys.

The talented halfback sustained a hamstring injury during the 2023 Grand Final rematch against the Brisbane Broncos earlier this season. This incident marks his second hamstring injury in recent times, following his absence from the final two State of Origin games last year due to a left hamstring strain.

Cleary’s latest update, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, was at the end of March, where he mentioned the nature of his injury and his rehabilitation progress. Despite describing the tear as minor and stating that he could have played if it were a grand final, he emphasized the importance of managing his workload and focusing on mental preparation during his recovery.