Nathan Cleary is reportedly a chance of being ruled out of the Pacific Championships after reportedly picking up a knee injury during the 2023 Grand Final.
The injury reportedly occurred during Sunday's match against the Brisbane Broncos after he was the victim of a hip-drop tackle by Payne Haas in the ninth minute of the match.
The Broncos forward would later be cited for the incident after the game and plead guilty to the Grade 1 Dangerous Contact infringement, meaning he will now need to pay a $1,800 fine rather than miss any games due to suspension.
โI rang our guys who then rang Penrith's medical team, and they told us he'll definitely go for scans to see what the extent of the injury is,โ Mal Meninga told The Sydney Morning Herald.
โAt this stage he's still celebrating, and rightly so. We've got โCherry' [Daly Cherry-Evans], so we can keep Nathan in the squad and have him available for the New Zealand game if needed. We'll see what happens.โ
It is understood that the star halfback has not suffered any major damage to the ligaments in his left knee, which is a good sign for Penrith Panthers fans. As reported, the issue is likely to be a problem with his meniscus or deep bone bruising, per the Herald.
Much of the squad from last year's World Cup is back on deck for the tri-series, while the likes ofย Thomas Flegler,ย Kotoni Staggsย andย Selwyn Cobboย will be in line for a possible Kangaroos' debut after playing in the grand final on Sunday, whileย Payne Haas, who missed the World Cup, has been included.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidowย is the other inclusion from outside the World Cup squad, whileย Matt Burton,ย Reagan Campbell-Gillard,ย Angus Crichton,ย Jeremiah Nanai,ย Murray Taulagiย andย Jack Wightonย are all sitting out.
Nathan Cleary is in doubt for the Kangaroos games after suffering a knee injury in the #NRLGF (via @MCarayannis). Happened in the 10th minute - scans to come to determine nature/severity but limited video brings concern for MCL sprain w hip drop tackle causing knee to collapse in pic.twitter.com/siHEixpv47
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) October 3, 2023
Full squad
James Tedescoย (c) (Sydney Roosters)
Josh Addo-Carrย (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Patrick Carriganย (Brisbane Broncos)
Daly Cherry-Evansย (Manly Sea Eagles)
Nathan Clearyย (Penrith Panthers)
Selwyn Cobboย (Brisbane Broncos)
Lindsay Collinsย (Sydney Roosters)
Reuben Cotterย (North Queensland Cowboys)
Tino Fa'asuamaleauiย (Gold Coast Titans)
Thomas Fleglerย (Brisbane Broncos)
Harry Grantย (Melbourne Storm)
Payne Haasย (Brisbane Broncos)
Valentine Holmesย (North Queensland Cowboys)
Ben Huntย (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Liam Martinย (Penrith Panthers)
Cameron Munsterย (Melbourne Storm)
Cameron Murrayย (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Kotoni Staggsย (Brisbane Broncos)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidowย (The Dolphins)
Jake Trbojevicย (Manly Sea Eagles)
Isaah Yeoย (Penrith Panthers)
Fixtures
Saturday, October 14:ย Australiaย vsย Samoaย at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, 8:10pm
Saturday, October 21:ย New Zealandย vsย Samoaย at Eden Park, Auckland, 4:00pm
Saturday, October 28:ย Australiaย vsย New Zealandย at AAMI Park, Melbourne, 8:10pm
Saturday, November 4: Final at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 3pm
All times AEDT.
