Panthers coach Ivan Cleary moved by teammates' support for injured son Nathan
Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has revealed the emotional moment his players rallied around his son Nathan after the star halfback suffered a horrific broken leg in Sunday's preliminary final loss to the Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium.
The Panthers were locked at 6-6 in the 35th minute when Knights forward Phoenix Crossland's hip drop tackle snapped Cleary's lower leg. As the 28-year-old was stretchered from the field, every Panthers player approached the medicab to shake his hand and offer support.
Watching from the coaches' box, Cleary said the scene turned a worried father into a proud coach.
“When all the boys went round to the Medicab I actually got a bit emotional there because I thought that was pretty cool,” Cleary said.
“I saw him at halftime and the whole crew were in there, my family, so that was a bit hard and was emotional but the show goes on.”
What happened to Nathan Cleary's foot?
Cleary revealed his son's injury was more serious than initially reported. Nathan was already battling a broken right foot heading into the match, and the lower leg fracture has compounded his problems.
“He's at hospital waiting for surgery. He'll have to get the other foot done as well because that was broken too,” Cleary said.
“He watched the game in the ambulance and that probably made him feel worse.”
How did the Panthers cope without their playmaker?
Despite enjoying a one-man advantage after Crossland was sent off, the Panthers struggled without their chief playmaker. Halves Jack Cogger and Jack Cole could not direct the team around the park, with several attacking overlaps going begging.
Co-captain Isaah Yeo said watching his close friend go down was difficult.
“He's one of my best mates and you don't like to see that. It's a lonely place out on the field when you've got something like that going on,” Yeo said.
Yeo pointed to Dom Young's try in the 41st minute as the moment the match turned.
“That first set with the ball was good and we sort of got a bit of momentum, and then I think they scored with the first time they touched the ball on tackle five,” he said.
“I felt like they had 13 at times and we had 12. That crowd got behind and they had a lot of energy and we were disappointing, so credit to them.”
What injuries plagued Penrith's finals campaign?
Penrith enjoyed a relatively healthy season before a late run of injuries undermined their premiership defence. Cleary, Yeo, Paul Alamoti and Izack Tago all carried significant complaints into the finals.
“The guy sitting next to me (Yeo) is also playing with a fully ruptured pec and I'm not sure it has been done before. Dylan Edwards ruptures PCL in the first half tonight and played on, so we're probably just falling apart a little bit,” Cleary said.
“That's why I was probably even more emotional after what happened to him (Nathan) because I knew how hard he worked and what he put himself through to actually get himself to play today.”
Was there controversy in the Knights' win?
The Panthers were left frustrated by two contentious tries. Young's second-half effort appeared to come from a forward pass in the lead-up, while Sandon Smith's 58th-minute try followed a quick tap taken while Penrith players had their backs turned.
The rules state a quick tap cannot be taken after foul play, but referee Gerard Sutton ruled sufficient time had elapsed between the penalty and the tap.
Cleary was measured in his response when asked about the decision.
“I think that probably summed up where we were at that point, not where we needed to be,” he said.
“I mean the old 12-man thing, I've seen it a few times over the years, and it just has a strengthening effect for one team and whether it's just frustration, we just couldn't get out of our own way. It just didn't happen for us.”
Will Isaah Yeo play in the World Cup?
Yeo confirmed he is uncertain whether he will feature in next month's World Cup as he weighs up surgery on his ruptured pec.
“I don't know. I'd have to talk to the club because it will affect the start of next season if I was to prolong it, so I'm not sure. That's a conversation for probably later on next week with Ivan and the staff,” he said.
Cleary paid tribute to the Knights, who will now contest the grand final.
“I want to just pay full credit to the Knights and their supporters, it was just a great day for their club and sets up a pretty good grand final,” he said.
Frequently asked questions
How serious is Nathan Cleary's injury?
Nathan Cleary suffered a broken lower leg from a hip drop tackle and will require surgery. He also needs surgery on a previously broken right foot that he had been managing through the finals.
Was Phoenix Crossland sent off?
Yes, Crossland was sent off for the hip drop tackle on Cleary, leaving the Knights to play more than 40 minutes with 12 men.
When is the NRL grand final?
The 2026 NRL grand final will be played at Accor Stadium on Sunday, October 4, with the Newcastle Knights facing the winner of the other preliminary final.