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Cleary to prepare for prelim with mental visualisation
Scott Bailey, AAP • September 15th, 2026 2:21 pm
Nathan Cleary is expected to be available for the Panthers, despite an injury to his right foot | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Penrith expect Nathan Cleary to be fit to play in next week's preliminary final, with coach Ivan backing his son to be able to rely on mental visualisation to prepare.
Cleary's season was plunged into doubt on Monday when scans revealed bone damage in his right foot, after he pulled up sore from Sunday's qualifying-final win.
The Panthers have been coy on how much damage there is from the "stress-related injury", other than to say the superstar No. 7 will be "monitored".
Penrith's Nathan Cleary showed plenty of wear and tear after the win over the Roosters | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
But the Panthers coach offered the strongest indication on Tuesday that the halfback would play in the preliminary final against the Warriors or Newcastle.
"One thing he has learned over the years is I know he prioritises actual kicking time. He spends more time now doing mental reps as well," Ivan said on SEN.
"He is really going to have to lean on that mental side over the coming weeks, because he is going to have to pull back.
"So it's good that he has been preparing that way.
"He knows he has kicked enough balls. He'll just spend enough time going through mental rehearsal, and that will do the trick."
Cleary has relied on mental visualisation before to prepare for big games, notably in training for goal-kicking before State of Origin II in 2025 when he hurt his groin on match eve.
The 28-year-old is no stranger to playing through injury.
He required shoulder surgery at the end of Penrith's 2021 and 2024 premiership successes, with his management of that injury a major talking point in the first of those titles.
Penrith also have a track record of getting players through injuries, with this weekend off also set to allow Cleary to stay off his feet.
The Panthers' Nathan Cleary is certainly to stranger to playing through pain | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Co-captain Isaah Yeo is playing these finals after delaying surgery on a ruptured pec, and Dylan Edwards also played through a foot fracture in the 2021 run.
Complicating the matter somewhat for Cleary's injury is that stress injuries in the foot are hard to needle up, and there can be some risk of doing serious damage if played on.
"The injury is definitely the impact of overuse and all that kind of stuff," Ivan said.
"He kicks a lot, does a lot, runs a lot, does the most metres every game of every player. It all adds up.
"At the end of the game (on Sunday) he was a bit uncomfortable. But it's so good to have the week off and we'll prepare for the prelim in a couple of weeks."
Even if his son is fit, Ivan still has another decision to make in the No. 6 jersey, with Jack Cogger returning from suspension.
Jack Cogger is available after suspension, adding to selection decisions for the Panthers | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Jack Cole has been solid there for the past three games, while Ivan suggested Blaize Talagi had played his best games this season at centre.
"Since Jarome (Luai) left a couple of years ago the No. 6 jersey, we're still trying to find a permanent replacement," Ivan said.
"I think I have (decided who No. 6 will be), but I won't be saying.
"We were playing Coggs at No. 14 at the start of the year. He's had such an interrupted season, a bit of halfback, a bit of No. 6 and a bit of No. 14.
"We get to a prelim final and all those things are still on the table.
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