Nathan Cleary has surgery, vows 'I'll be back' after season-ending injury
Nathan Cleary has undergone emergency surgery on his left ankle and told fans from his hospital bed: "I'll be back."
The Penrith halfback confirmed on Monday, 28 September that the first operation was successful. He posted the update to social media from hospital, two days after his season ended in brutal fashion, The Guardian.
Cleary suffered a compound fracture and dislocated ankle in Penrith's 22-14 loss to Newcastle on Saturday night. A compound fracture means the bone breaks through the skin. It ended Penrith's season and ruled Cleary out of the World Cup.
The injury came in a hip-drop tackle from Newcastle's Phoenix Crossland. That is the tackle where a defender drops his body weight onto the back of the ball-carrier's legs. Crossland was sent off and has been referred straight to the judiciary.
It is not Cleary's only foot problem. He also broke a bone in his right foot in Penrith's week-one finals win over the Sydney Roosters. He still needs surgery on that foot. Reports suggest he could face up to six months out even if his recovery runs smoothly, Fox Sports.
The timing cuts deep. Cleary led the Dally M count, the NRL's player-of-the-year award, when votes went behind closed doors after round 12. He will miss Wednesday night's ceremony at Barangaroo in Sydney because he is still in hospital.
Penrith paid a heavy price beyond Cleary. Fullback Dylan Edwards played on after a suspected rupture to his PCL, the ligament that steadies the back of the knee, in the first half. Five-eighth Blaize Talagi ruptured his achilles tendon, the cord above the heel, in the second half.
Co-captain Isaah Yeo also needs surgery for a ruptured pectoral muscle in his chest. He delayed the operation to stay with the team through the finals.
Just days earlier, hope was still high. Yeo had backed Cleary to play through the right-foot injury against Newcastle and push for a sixth straight grand final, Penrith Panthers.
For fans, this means a long, quiet summer. No grand final. No World Cup for Cleary, with Edwards and Yeo also in doubt for representative duties, NRL.com. Just rehab. Cleary has made a career of control and calm. Now that starts again from a hospital bed.
