Nathan Cleary’s Determination Shines Through Pain in Origin Match
Melbourne has witnessed a remarkable display of resilience from Blues halfback Nathan Cleary, who is set to receive a painkilling injection for a hip pointer injury ahead of the second Origin match. The injury, which left him struggling to sit and lie down for three days after the first game, was sustained due to a collision with NSW prop Addin Fonua-Blake just 15 minutes into the match.
What made Cleary’s performance in the Blues’ first win even more impressive was his ability to push through the pain without showing any signs of discomfort during the game. He did not inform NSW medical staff at the time, nor did he express any emotion. The first indication that something was wrong came when he requested a needle at the break and was fitted with a protective pad.
A Vital Contribution Despite the Injury
During the game, Cleary played a crucial role in the Blues’ comeback victory. His 40/20 kick in the second half and a pinpoint pass for James Tedesco were instrumental in securing the 22-20 win over Queensland. After the match, Cleary had an ice pack strapped around his hip as he enjoyed a couple of cold beers with his father, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary. At no point did he mention the injury.
The severity of the injury was revealed after an MRI scan the following day. According to Blues’ doctor Nathan Gibbs, Cleary suffered a direct blow to the iliac crest on the pelvic bone, along with a tear to his abdominal core. This confirmed the extent of the damage.
Recovery and Challenges
Cleary worked closely with Penrith’s physios in the days following the win over Queensland, but the injury left him unable to perform any significant activities. He was not named for the Sunday clash against the New Zealand Warriors and would not have played if available.
Penrith’s chief physio Pete Green described the bruise as “the size of a soccer ball, and every colour under the sun.” The injury was so severe that there was uncertainty about whether Cleary could play against the Wests Tigers the following week. He only completed contact work on Friday before the game, received another painkiller, and delivered a standout performance in the Panthers’ 68-0 victory.
Coping with the Pain
Stretching, band work, and rest were the main components of Cleary’s recovery plan. He confirmed that he was likely to be needled again before the MCG match. In a moment of reflection, he even wondered if Fonua-Blake’s head was made of granite, given the impact he experienced.
“I thought it was given the way I felt afterwards,” Cleary told this masthead. “I didn’t even know it was Addin’s head at the time. All I remember was it was pretty sore. I got to half-time, got it needled and it was sweet.”
He emphasized that he never considered leaving the field, stating, “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.”
A Test of Character
Cleary revealed that he had previously suffered a knock to his right hip earlier in the season, but nothing compared to the pain he endured during the Origin match. He later informed Fonua-Blake about the incident when they returned to camp, and the Cronulla prop was impressed by how Cleary managed to hide his pain.
“You’ll read about the way he led the team around, but you won’t read about how tough he is – you would never have known he received an injection [at half-time],” Fonua-Blake said. “He gets up for training and games and goes about his business. That’s what I admire about him.”
Fonua-Blake admitted that he was unaware of the impact he had made on Cleary. “I looked up to the sky after the tackle, then looked back down and saw Queensland had scored. I didn’t even know what I had hit. I thought it was Harry that bumped me off. I was glad it was Nathan because it would have been embarrassing getting bumped off by Harry Grant.”
Expert Perspective on Resilience
Gibbs, who has worked with some of the greatest players in the game for over 40 years, praised Cleary’s ability to cope with pain. “What fans don’t see is how well he copes playing injured,” Gibbs said. “I said to him this week in camp, ‘how are you going with the hip?’ and ‘do you need any modifications for training?’ He said, ‘no, I’ll be all right, don’t worry about me.’ One of the qualities the great players have is playing well injured. He certainly does that.”
