Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is set to miss the remainder of the 2023 Ampol State of Origin series after picking up a hamstring injury in his side’s win over the Dragons on Sunday night.
Penrith confirmed on Monday that the Blues star would be sidelined for six weeks, ruling him out for selection for the remaining two Origin fixtures.
Cleary was running back towards the defensive line in the 15th minute before clutching at his hamstring and reluctantly leaving the field.
In the same game, Dragons forward Jack de Belin was placed on a stretcher and taken from the field after suffering a head injury while tackling Lindsay Smith following a kick restart.
Play was stopped midway through the second half as medical staff from both clubs attended to de Belin, who was able to get back on his feet inside the sheds but is set to be stood down for at least 11 days under concussion protocols.
Meanwhile, Rabbitohs forwards Jai Arrow and Cameron Murray are also in doubt for Origin II after failing to finish their side’s match against the Titans.
Arrow suffered an ankle injury in the 20th minute and hobbled from the field before undergoing a fitness test that ruled him out of the match. He watched from the sideline in a moonboot, while holding a set of crutches.
“It feels really jammed up at the back and I did get told it is a syndesmosis [injury], but hopefully it is a minor grading. It is a bit disappointing,” Arrow told Fox League.
Murray came from the field after aggravating a groin injury from Wednesday night’s series opener and he did not return.
“I thought it was just a bit of tightness and I thought after five or 10 minutes it just would have warmed up, but it got a bit sore during the game and there was a tackle there where I over-stretched it a bit,” Murray said.
Melbourne centre Justin Olam and Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney both failed head injury assessments on Sunday and will be monitored in the lead-up to Round 15.
Dolphins pair Tom Gilbert (shoulder) and Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) missed Round 14 due to injuries while centre Brenko Lee (calf) failed to finish against the Warriors.
Warriors centre Rocco Berry is set to be stood down for Round 15 clash with the Raiders after he failed a HIA in the first half against the Dolphins, along with Manly star Tom Trbojevic, who suffered a concussion in Origin I.
Source: NRL.Com