Yesterday sucked... I'll be back, says Cleary
Nathan Cleary responds to the horrific injury that has ruled him out of the Rugby League World Cup by promising "I'll be back."
Nathan Cleary, the 28-year-old Australian rugby league legend, suffered a severe ankle injury during his team, Penrith Panthers, loss to Newcastle Knights in the NRL play-off on Sunday. The injury, which included a compound fracture and dislocation, has ruled Cleary out of the upcoming Rugby League World Cup in his home country.
Cleary, who clinched the World Cup in Manchester four years ago, required emergency surgery after being tackled by Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland, who was subsequently sent off for a hip-drop tackle, banned since 2020. Cleary expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he received, stating that "yesterday sucked" but acknowledged it as part of his journey.
His father, the Panthers' head coach Ivan Cleary, revealed that his son would undergo surgery on both feet. Crossland is expected to receive a substantial ban, potentially affecting his availability for both the NRL Grand Final and the World Cup, where Australia and New Zealand are set to face each other in the opening match on October 15.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
