Nathan Cleary injury worsens as Panthers rocked by brutal new development before NRL finals

The Penrith Panthers have been rocked by a crushing new injury blow amid Nathan Cleary's absence, with young half Jack Cole suffering a serious leg injury in NSW Cup over the weekend. Cleary is out until the NRL finals after dislocating his shoulder last week against the Melbourne Storm.

Brad Schneider got the first crack at replacing Cleary in the Panthers' first-grade side, but produced an indifferent performance in their shock loss to Canberra on Saturday. Some fans had speculated that Cole would be a better option than Schneider and might be in line for a call-up to the NRL team next weekend.

But the 21-year-old appears to be set for an extended period on the sidelines after a nasty incident in reserve grade. Cole was left writhing in agony after injuring his leg in what appeared to be a hip-drop tackle, and had to be taken from the field just five minutes into the game.

According to 'NRL Physio' Brien Seeney, the tackle had "all the usual hip-drop tackle mechanism concerns". Seeney said Cole potentially suffered a syndesmosis or MCL injury, and couldn't rule out a potential lower leg fracture as well. "Will be lucky if he avoids several weeks on the sideline with the traumatic nature of that one," he wrote on social media.

Panthers not concerned despite ladder slide heading into finals

The development means Schneider will likely remain in the first-grade team until Cleary returns, but fans will be concerned. The three-time reigning premiers slipped from second to fourth on the NRL ladder after their 22-18 loss to the Raiders in Canberra.

The Panthers were leap-frogged by both the Roosters and Sharks and are in danger of missing out on a home final in the first week of the playoffs. As it currently stands they would have to travel to Melbourne to face the first-place Storm.

"I'm honestly not too worried about that," coach Ivan Cleary said after the game. "We've had years in the past where this time of year we're kicking around and waiting for the finals to start, so it's definitely not going to be like that this year. What's important is we hit the finals playing well. At the moment we're not playing well enough."

The Panthers were also without suspended hooker Mitch Kenny against Canberra, but Cleary wasn't using the absences as an excuse. “We’ll get Mitch Kenny back next week,” Cleary said. “I’m not using it as an excuse this season (injuries). For us, it feels like it’s been a problem more than usual. We’ll work it out and it’s up to me to pick the right team.”

Captain Isaah Yeo remained confident his side are on the right track despite some underwhelming form of late. “As a group we’ve discussed that and it (belief) couldn’t be any higher,” Yeo said. “I don’t care where we finish and how that looks.”

Penrith never looked fluent in attack without superstar halfback Cleary, who has been ruled out of the rest of the home-and-away season. The Panthers are confident he'll be right for the finals, but haven't put a date on his potential return.

On Saturday, stand-in half Schneider had a quiet game and left the bulk of the playmaking to halves partner Jarome Luai. When Cleary went down with a hamstring injury earlier this season, Luai stepped up and was brilliant while playing halfback, and will need to recapture that form to have the Panthers firing in time for the finals.

NRL state of play with two rounds remaining:

1. Storm - 42 points (+213 for-and-against)

2. Roosters - 36 points (+269)

3. Sharks - 36 points (+204)

4. Panthers - 36 points (+158)

5. Bulldogs - 34 points (+146)

6. Cowboys - 32 points (+43)

7. Sea Eagles - 31 points (+121)

8. Dragons - 28 points (-120)

9. Broncos - 26 points (+2)

10. Dolphins - 26 points (-27)

11. Knights - 26 points (-70)

12. Raiders - 26 points (-131)

Key matches in Round 26:

• Eels v Dragons

• Dolphins v Broncos

• Knights v Titans

• Roosters v Raiders