Panthers chairman Greg Alexander has revealed Nathan Cleary’s injury was not as bad as what was reported after the reigning Dally M Medallist underwent a second surgery.
During the Panthers’ preliminary final loss against Newcastle, the halfback suffered what was widely reported as a double fracture in his tibia and fibula alongside a compound fracture after a nasty tackle by Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland.
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Cleary is now recovering from a second round of surgery — the first for the broken and dislocated ankle and the second for a fracture in the other foot that he came into the Knights clash with.
But according to Penrith legend Alexander, the reports around his leg break aren’t accurate, as the Penrith halfback’s tibia wasn’t broken at all.
“In terms of Nathan, the reporting kept saying it was a double fracture (but) it wasn’t a double fracture,” Alexander said on SEN’s Kick Off.
“So, the two bones in your legs, fibula and tibia. Tibia is the big one. Fibula is the narrower bone.
“He broke the fibula, the smaller bone. That wasn’t where the compound fracture came (from). The pressure was on the tibia, which wasn’t broken, so it wasn’t a double fracture.
“It pushed the tibia, and it came out (of) his ankle. His ankle came out. So, they showed the ankle bone just popped through the skin because of the pressure put on the tibia.
“Tibia didn’t break, no fracture in the tibia, which was fantastic news. So not a...
Panthers chairman Greg Alexander has revealed Nathan Cleary’s injury was not as bad as what was reported after the reigning Dally M Medallist underwent a second surgery. During the Panthers’ preli...