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New South Wales copped an almighty blow in its quest to level the State of Origin series with halfback Nathan Cleary suffering a hamstring injury on Sunday night.
The Blues halfback limped from the field clutching at his left hamstring during the first half of the Panthers’ match against the Dragons in Penrith.
Cleary picked up the injury while moving in a sliding defensive line at BlueBet Stadium.
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He was clearly shattered as he left the field with a trainer and stumbled up the race.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary gave a grim assessment of the injury in his press conference.
“We’re going to be without him for a while”, said the Penrith coach.
“I’m not a doctor but it’s a significant injury.
“We’ll get scans tomorrow and we’ll know more.
“I think he’d be very unlikely (for game two), but I’m not a doctor.”
Blues advisor Greg Alexander offered his reaction to the injury blow in his role as a Fox League commentator.
“You could tell that he was in trouble immediately. I think you could see by the look on his face that he knows it’s more than just a twinge,” Alexander said.
“As he tried to take off there you could see him hobbling back into place and then when it was tested he was immediately off the field.
“And Nathan Cleary is a tough footballer, so you’re thinking … there’s got to be serious issues there.”
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If Cleary is ruled out of game two of the Origin series, to be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on June 21, the Blues will likely shift Nicho Hynes into the No.7 jumper, partnering the Sharks playmaker in the halves with Jarome Luai.
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In the lead-up to game one, which Queensland won 26-18 at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night, there were calls from respected rugby league figures to axe Luai and blood Hynes at five-eighth.
When Cleary was scrubbed from game three of the 2021 decider due to a dislocated shoulder, Eels halfback Mitchell Moses took his spot, before the Maroons won 20-18 to prevent a Blues whitewash.
Hynes, Moses and Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds will all be in the mix to replace Cleary if he’s deemed unavailable.
Cleary’s injury blow on Sunday night followed the withdrawal of gun centre Latrell Mitchell two days before the Origin opener, with the South Sydney ace suffering a calf injury during a training session.
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