Blues blow: Cleary hamstrung as Panthers beat Dragons

NSW star Nathan Cleary has suffered a hamstring injury in Penrith's win over St George Illawarra. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

Ivan Cleary has all but put a line through son Nathan's hopes of playing for NSW in Game II of State of Origin after the halfback limped out of Penrith’s 26-18 win over St George Illawarra with a hamstring injury. 

Cleary, who was part of the Blues side that lost the series opener in Adelaide, pulled up in pain after just 15 minutes at BlueBet Stadium and will head for scans on Monday. 

Penrith are hopeful the halfback had suffered a “low-grade” strain but the setback still leaves the prized No. 7 in severe doubt to face Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.

“We’re going to be without him for a while," Ivan Cleary said. 

“I’m not a doctor but it’s a significant injury. I think he’d be very unlikely (for game two)." 

Cleary is critical to Brad Fittler’s plans as the Blues fight to save the series in Brisbane for the first time in Origin history.

Fittler would likely plump for Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes, who made his Origin debut from the bench on Wednesday, with Parramatta’s Mitch Moses and Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds possible understudies.

Cleary Snr said he had no concern picking his son after the gruelling Origin opener, claiming he had never shown signs of hamstring issues.

"When you back players up, there is always a risk," Ivan said. 

"But this is the longest turnaround you can get and he showed no signs.

"I'm not sure what the issue there is."

The Panthers' coach said he'd "love" to see his son fit for Origin Game III on July 12 but added, "it's a soft-tissue injury; it's one where you can play or you can't".

Penrith's star half looked to have no signs of rust from the Origin opener when he set up winger Brian To’o with a floating cut-out pass in the 11th minute after a Zac Lomax penalty.

Just after Cleary pulled up sore, Mikaele Ravalawa crashed in at the corner for the Dragons and the Fijian winger made it a double in the 38th minute. 

Jack Cogger, brought on to replace Cleary, found To’o with a pinpoint cross-field kick on the stroke of half-time, with the winger’s effort converted by Stephen Crichton.

After the break, Crichton added a penalty and what followed was an end-to-end battle between the reigning premiers and the bottom-placed Dragons for the next 20 minutes.

There was another heart-in-mouth moment in that period when Penrith’s NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai rolled his ankle, but he was able to play on.

The arm wrestle eventually ended when touch judge Wyatt Raymond controversially flagged for a knock-on by Dragons winger Mat Feagai which referee Chris Sutton had signalled play on.

On the next set, Sunia Turuva touched down for the Panthers.

"I saw the referee call 'Gone backwards' three times; he makes the call and then it gets changed," said interim Dragons coach Ryan Carr.

"It's a huge moment and they score off that set, but we couldn't challenge it because it was too late."

The Dragons kept going after that setback, depite losing Jack de Belin to a concussion.

Zac Lomax hit back for Carr's men but a rampaging Moses Leota put the Panthers back in control. 

Crichton converted Leota's try to re-establish a six-point buffer and added a last-minute penalty to ensure the Panthers' victory.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store