Nathan Cleary is set be given a painkilling injection in order to play in State of Origin Game 2, as reports emerged about the Penrith star’s injury.
The NSW halfback is integral to Laurie Daley’s team and was named man of the match in the opener.
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So Blues are pulling out all the stops to ensure he plays as the 28-year-old continues to struggle with a hip pointer injury.
That means he will receive an injection to play at the MCG, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Cleary sustained his injury just 15 minutes into the Origin opener after colliding with teammate Addin Fonua-Blake.
“He suffered a direct blow to the iliac crest on the pelvic bone, and the abdominal muscles attached to that. There was also a tear to his abdominal core, which the scans confirmed,” Blues’ doctor Nathan Gibbs said.
The halfback was rested for the Panthers’ win over the Warriors the following weekend before returning for the 68-0 win over the Wests Tigers.
But Cleary has still not managed to shake his injury with his bruise “the size of a soccer ball”, according to Penrith chief physio Pete Green.
Cleary played through the pain barrier with the help of a halftime injection in the opener, even scoring one of NSW’s four tries.
“I didn’t even know it was Addin’s head at the time [that caused the damage]. All I remember was it was pretty sore. I got to halftime, got it needled and it was sweet,” Cleary said.
“I wasn’t coming off. It wasn’t even on my mind. I just hoped, at halftime, the needle would work, and it did. You never want to give away any cues to the opposition.
“It was good we had the week off – that definitely helped. I’m just lucky to have the physios and medical staff we have at NSW and Penrith – they put so much work into me.”
Originally published as Nathan Cleary injury revelation ahead of State of Origin Game 2