‘No matter what’: Panthers great’s bold Cleary call as Ivan urged against big ‘risk’

While there is a preliminary final to be won and lost on Sunday, all eyes will be on the interchange bench at Accor Stadium to see whether Nathan Cleary takes to the field.

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The Panthers halfback was surprisingly demoted to the bench ahead of Sunday’s game against the Newcastle Knights as he battles a serious foot injury.

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Ivan Cleary told Fox League on Sunday that the team believes starting with Nathan on the bench is their “best chance to navigate our way through the 80 minutes”.

“Just to take him out of the biggest impact at the start of the game,” the Panthers coach said.

“He has (been limited). He’s done a bunch of different stuff over a couple of weeks. Ultimately we are really happy with where we went from there.”

As for how and when they could get the halfback on the field? Well, understandably Ivan wasn’t giving too much away.

“We’ve got a plan. We’ve got a few actually,” he said.

Panthers legend Greg Alexander, however, confidently declared on Fox League’s pre-game coverage that Cleary would get onto the field “no matter what”.

Alexander said Cleary trained for an hour on Thursday and even got through general play kicking, although added he won’t be goal-kicking on Sunday if he plays.

Ivan confident Nathan is fit for prelim | 02:19

“I think this is just Ivan and the medical team trying to get with a premiership in mind, trying to win a grand final and trying to manage Nathan’s injury the best they can and they think that starting out of the rough and tumble of the opening 20 minutes will help Nathan get through this game, and if required, help his recovery getting to the next game if there is one,” Alexander said.

“I think no matter what he’ll take the field today,” Alexander added.

“You’d have to be in a very comfortable position. You’ve got to win. You can’t take that risk and roll the dice. I really do think that it is just reducing the load on that foot as much as they can. I think Nathan’s out there after 20 minutes.”

Three-time premiership winning five-eighth Luke Keary, however, said that he believes the Panthers should consider leaving Cleary on the bench for the entire 80 minutes if they get out to a handy lead.

“You wouldn’t risk him because it is about next week,” Keary said.

“As much as you have to win this week, there’s no point them winning today if Nathan can’t play next week. They need Nathan next week.”

Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards told Fox League pre-game on Sunday that the team has “known for a while” that Cleary would start off the bench and that it had not disrupted their preparation.