Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary will be racing the clock to be fit for Penrith’s season opener in Las Vegas, although his club is confident he will play.
The NRL star jetted out to the UK to spend time with Mary Fowler fresh from spearheading Penrith to their fourth successive NRL premiership.
However, Cleary is expected to leave her side in the coming week to return to Australia to undergo surgery on his shoulder.
The Panthers playmaker was unable to go under the knife straight after the NRL decider because the surgeon was on annual leave.
The surgery, a Latarjet procedure, is expected to need three months of rehabilitation but he is still expected to return to training with the team in January, reports News Corp.
Cleary had the same procedure at the end of 2021, but did not return to the field until round four in 2022.
Last week, Cleary shared some snaps of himself in a pair of blue budgie smugglers as he waded into a lake surrounded by breathtaking mountains in Switzerland.
Panthers star Nathan Cleary will go under the knife next week
Cleary will be facing a couple of months on the sidelines recovering, but his club is confident he will be ready for the season opener
The footy star is clearly enjoying his European holiday with girlfriend Mary Fowler.
The couple were first pictured at Old Trafford watching the Super League Grand Final as Wigan claimed victory over Hull Kingston Rovers.
During half-time, Cleary was invited pitchside for an interview with Sky Sports Rugby League, where he poured cold water on rumours he’s set to move to Europe to be closer to girlfriend Fowler.
‘Not any time soon, to be honest,’ Cleary said.
‘I’ve seen all the rumours. But get to come over here and see her [Mary] play, which is nice, and have a break. But [I] won’t be moving over here anytime soon.’
Cleary, though, appears to have been loving his time visiting Fowler, with the pair seen also exploring Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
