Panthers receive 'fantastic news' with Cleary update

Greg Alexander has explained the extent of Nathan Cleary’s injury after the reigning Dally M Medallist underwent his second surgery.

During the Panthers’ preliminary final loss against Newcastle, the halfback came off the field and took no further part following what was reported to be a double fracture in his tibia and fibula alongside a compound fracture after a hip drop tackle.

This saw him incur another injury, having initially suffered 'a stress-related bone issue' during their qualifying final win against the Roosters.

But following an update from the club’s physio Pete Green during Wednesday’s board meeting, the Panthers chairman said that the injury was not as bad as it has been reported.

“In terms of Nathan, the reporting kept saying it was a double fracture,” Alexander explained on SEN's Kick Off.

“It wasn't a double fracture. So, the two bones in your legs, fibula and tibia. Tibia is the big one. Fibula is the narrower bone.

“He broke the fibula, the smaller bone.

“That wasn't where the compound fracture came. The pressure on the tibia, which wasn't broken, so it wasn't a double fracture.

“It pushed the tibia, and it came out his ankle. His ankle came out.

“So, they showed the ankle bone just popped through the skin because of the pressure put on the tibia. Tibia didn't break, no fracture in the tibia, which was fantastic news.

“So not a double fracture and not a compound where the bone, the sharp bit of a bone, has come through the skin.”

But Alexander did note he had ruptured his syndesmosis, resulting in his ankle being pinned.

“So, syndesmosis ruptured, of course,” he continued.

“And (he) showed us an X-ray of the plate, the pins in the leg and the ankle was pinned, not the tightrope. We've spoken about the syndesmosis injury, so they couldn't tie it as per a normal syndesmosis, so they screwed it. So the two longer screws go through the ankle to keep the ankle bones together.

“So, in terms of the horrific injury that Nathan suffered it was as good as could be expected without the double fracture.”

The Panthers enter the off-season with Jack Cole, Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen all heading to the Perth Bears.