Cleary Goes Back to His Roots as Penrith Panthers Return to Training Ground

The Penrith Panthers’ training pitch looked less like a moon base and more like the familiar suburban oval as Nathan Cleary stepped onto the grass in his standard footy boots. The move, made on Tuesday, was the latest twist in a saga that had had fans wondering whether the star half‑back was still recovering from his ankle injury.

In a scene that would have made the commentators on the sidelines chuckle, Cleary’s arrival was met with a chorus of cheers from the bench and a collective sigh of relief from the supporters. The moon boots, a tongue‑in‑cheek reference to his off‑season stints at a space‑faring club, were left at the back of the locker room, making a quiet exit as the team resumed its routine drills.

The preliminary final is set to take place on Sunday, and the Panthers will be hoping that Cleary’s return is more than a brief cameo. The coaching staff have reportedly been keeping a close eye on his range of motion, and a full‑speed sprint in the warm‑up has been a green light for the star’s fitness.

With the pressure of a high‑stakes match looming, fans can now breathe easier, though the real question remains whether the Panthers will actually win the game or simply score a few points in the penalty shootout. Either way, the return of Cleary’s footy boots promises a match that will keep everyone on their toes.