Nathan Cleary has spoken from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery for the horrific ankle injury he suffered during Penrith’s preliminary final defeat by the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.
The Panthers captain sustained a confirmed compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his left leg.
Cleary shared an emotional update on Instagram, thanking those who had contacted him and promising to return to the field. In the accompanying photo, he raised both thumbs.
‘Surgery done… Thank you so much to everyone that has reached out, the support has been unbelievable.’
The Penrith playmaker acknowledged that the day after the injury had been among the most difficult of his career as he started to come to terms with the setback.
‘Yesterday sucked but it’s all part of the journey and it’s made me even more grateful for the people I have around me.’
Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary shared an encouraging Instagram post after undergoing surgery on his badly broken leg
Medical staff reportedly feared the injury could compromise the blood supply to Cleary’s left foot
A bone pierced the skin near Cleary’s ankle, with one club source comparing the wound to a ‘bullet wound’
He finished the post with a determined message: ‘I’ll be back.’
Cleary confirmed that the operation was complete but did not reveal any details about the procedure.
He also stopped short of offering a potential timeframe for his return to rugby league.
Instead, his message centred on the gratitude he feels towards those supporting him through the ordeal.
Cleary described the reaction to his injury and the messages he had received as ‘unbelievable’.
Several club sources told The Sydney Morning Herald that it was the worst leg break they had witnessed. In the immediate aftermath, Panthers medical staff helped paramedics keep Cleary’s leg straight because of fears that the injury could cut off the blood supply to his left foot.
The force of the injury caused a bone to break through the skin near his ankle. A Panthers source compared the bleeding wound to a ‘bullet wound’.
Multiple club sources described Cleary’s injury as the worst leg break they had seen.
Panthers staff helped paramedics keep Cleary’s lower leg straight and stable before he was taken to hospital
Phoenix Crossland was sent off for the tackle and referred directly to the NRL judiciary
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Newcastle overcame Crossland’s dismissal to beat Penrith 22-14 and reach the grand final
Cleary’s foot was left pointing in a different direction, prompting urgent concern about circulation and the risk of serious complications.
Some Penrith staff reportedly only realised the extent of the damage when they saw the tackle replayed on Accor Stadium’s big screen before reaching him.
There were also fears the trauma could have caused syndesmosis damage, although that injury has not been confirmed.
The halfback was taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery after Phoenix Crossland’s hip-drop tackle ended his afternoon.
Adding to his ordeal, Cleary had entered the match with a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot, a separate injury that also requires an operation.
‘He will have to get the other foot done as well, because that was broken,’ his father and coach Ivan said.
The Panthers had previously described that problem as a ‘stress-related bone issue’, with Cleary starting on the bench before entering the game in the 26th minute.
Less than 10 minutes later, he was receiving urgent treatment as shocked teammates and opponents gathered around him.
Newcastle’s Francis Manuleleua immediately signalled for medical assistance, while Cleary was given pain relief through a green whistle.
The Herald reported he could spend up to six months on the sidelines, provided there were no surgical complications.
His mother Bec was reportedly in tears in the crowd, while Ivan faced the distressing task of continuing to coach after watching his son suffer the injury.
‘That’s why I was probably even more emotional, because I knew how hard he worked and what he put himself through to actually get himself to play today,’ Ivan said.
The Panthers coach visited Nathan and their family at half-time, and later revealed his son had watched the remainder of the loss in the ambulance.
‘He watched the game in the ambulance apparently and made him feel worse,’ Ivan said.
Penrith captain Isaah Yeo described Cleary as ‘one of my best mates’ and ‘your brother out there’ as he reflected on the distress among the players.
Crossland was sent off and subsequently referred directly to the NRL judiciary, leaving his grand final availability unresolved.
Referee Gerard Sutton told the Newcastle hooker he had made a ‘definite action to twist’ before bringing his weight down on Cleary’s leg, creating an ‘extreme risk of serious injury’.
Despite playing the entire second half with 12 men, Newcastle won 22-14 to book a grand final clash with the Sydney Roosters.