Just days after celebrating the biggest individual honour of his career, Nathan Cleary has undergone a second operation — and the latest indication about his return has raised the possibility that he could miss the opening stages of the 2027 NRL season.
For Nathan Cleary, one of the proudest moments of his career has arrived in the middle of an unexpectedly difficult period.
The Penrith Panthers superstar recently claimed his first Dally M Medal, accepting the prestigious award from the couch at home rather than at the ceremony.
But only days later, Cleary has found himself facing another challenge.
Already recovering from emergency surgery on one leg, the champion halfback has now undergone a second operation — this time to repair the right foot injury he had been carrying before Penrith’s preliminary final.
And while the procedure itself appears to have gone well, the latest indication about what comes next could prove difficult for both Cleary and Panthers supporters.
Cleary celebrates his first Dally M from home
Cleary’s maiden Dally M Medal marked a major individual milestone in a career already filled with team success.
Yet the circumstances surrounding the moment were far from normal.
Instead of receiving the award under the lights of the ceremony, Cleary delivered his acceptance speech from the couch at home as he recovered from surgery.
It was a striking contrast: one of the biggest achievements of his career arriving while football had temporarily been taken away from him.
And his recovery story was only just beginning.
A second operation follows days later
Cleary had entered Penrith’s preliminary final against Newcastle already carrying a fracture in his right foot.
During the match, however, he suffered another significant injury involving his left leg and ankle and was taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
Attention then returned to the injury on his opposite side.
Cleary has now undergone a second procedure to repair the right foot problem.
A photograph later shared on Instagram showed him watching the Prime Minister’s XIII matches while recovering, with his left leg supported in a moon boot and his right leg also immobilised following surgery.
The surgeon delivers encouraging news
Despite the difficult circumstances, there has been some positive news from Cleary’s medical team.
Panthers Group CEO Andrew Hill told 2GB’s Continuous Call Team that the surgeon was pleased with the outcome.
“The surgeon was very happy,” Hill said.
“The report was as good as we could have expected.”
Cleary has since returned home, where Hill said he was being looked after by his parents as the rehabilitation process begins.
But the biggest question remains when he will be ready to play again.
Could Cleary miss the beginning of 2027?
Asked about a possible return date, Hill revealed the current indication from the surgeon.
“The indication from the surgeon is, everything going to plan, round one to round four we are expecting him to be back,” he said.
That timeline leaves open the possibility that Cleary could miss games at the beginning of the 2027 NRL season.
Importantly, no exact return date has been confirmed.
Hill also acknowledged how quickly modern recovery timelines can change, meaning Cleary could progress faster — or require more time — depending on how rehabilitation unfolds.
For now, however, the prospect of a delayed start to next season adds another layer of uncertainty to what has already become a demanding recovery.
World Cup plans are also put on hold
Cleary’s injuries have already ruled him out of Australia’s upcoming World Cup campaign.
Instead of joining the national side, his immediate focus will remain on recovery from the two procedures and gradually rebuilding towards a return to full training.
For a player accustomed to preparing for the biggest matches of the year, the coming months will therefore look very different.
A remarkable high followed by an uncertain road ahead
Only days separate Cleary’s first Dally M Medal and his second operation.
One moment represented the highest individual honour of his career.
The next returned the focus to rehabilitation, patience and an uncertain return date.
There are encouraging signs in the surgeon’s report, and the Panthers remain hopeful that Cleary could be back during the opening rounds of 2027.
But after everything that has happened in such a short period, the possibility of missing the beginning of another season means his biggest individual celebration has quickly been followed by a very different challenge.
For Cleary, the next milestone will not come with a medal.
It will be getting back onto the field.
Sources: Nine Wide World of Sports, 2GB Continuous Call Team, Penrith Panthers and Nathan Cleary’s public social media update.