Warning: Contains graphic content.
Penrith’s medical team helped paramedics keep Nathan Cleary’s leg straight as he was taken from the field on Sunday to reduce the risk of cutting off the blood supply to his left foot.
There were fears Cleary’s double fracture was so bad that the champion halfback risked major complications had he not been rushed by ambulance to hospital in time to undergo emergency surgery.
Several club sources with knowledge of Cleary’s injury said it was the worst leg break they had seen.
Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland has been referred straight to the judiciary for the tackle, which resulted in him being sent from the field in the 35th minute of Newcastle’s stunning 22-14 preliminary final win.
A bone pierced the skin and stuck out the inside of Cleary’s ankle. The damage was likened to a “bullet wound” by a Penrith source because of the blood coming out of Cleary’s foot as he was moved onto the back of the medicab.
Because a bone was protruding, and the fact that it was a double compound fracture, there were fears the trauma would lead to Cleary also suffering a syndesmosis injury.
Several Penrith staff only realised how bad the injury was when they saw a replay of the tackle on the big screen inside Accor Stadium before they had arrived to treat Cleary.
Because Cleary’s foot was left facing in a different direction and the bone was protruding, the immediate concern was a blockage of the blood supply. That led to several staff members helping paramedics try to keep Cleary’s lower leg straight and stable.
Provided there are no complications with surgery, Cleary is facing up to six months on the sidelines.
Coach Ivan Cleary also confirmed his son went into the game with a broken bone in his right foot, which will also be operated on.
The Panthers described Cleary’s foot injury at the time as a “stress-related bone issue”, but he had actually broken the fifth metatarsal, the last bone on the outside of his foot.
Cleary snr was still in shock after the game.
He said in the post-match press conference: “I went and saw him [Nathan] at half-time and saw the whole crew, my family, in there. That was hard and a bit emotional.
“When all the boys went around to the medicab, I got a bit emotional there, and thought it was cool.
“I didn’t know it was a compound fracture. I can’t explain what happened in the second half.”
Cleary’s injury has had a significant impact on rival players, including fellow representative playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans, who said it was difficult to watch.
“I tell you what, I watch it through the lens sometimes as a dad. And watching his dad up in the coaches box, I could not believe how he would be able to sit there, compose himself, and coach a side when his son has just had a pretty rough injury,” Cherry-Evans said.
“That’s where my thoughts go. It’s not just tough on Nathan, it’s tough on his family. I’ve spent time with Nathan, I know how resilient he is, he’ll come back bigger and stronger, there’s absolutely no doubt about that.”
Cleary snr also confirmed after the game fullback Dylan Edwards had injured his posterior cruciate ligament in the first half, but played through the pain. The No.1 played the entire second half with a torn PCL during an epic Origin decider win for NSW in 2024.
Edwards will undergo scans later this week, which will decide if he requires immediate surgery, and if he is still a hope of playing for Australia at the World Cup.
Blaize Talagi ruptured his Achilles and is facing up to five months on the sidelines, while Isaah Yeo remains confident he can delay surgery on his ruptured pectoral so he can captain Australia next month.
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