NRL 2026, Injuries, suspension, return dates, casualty ward and key information for the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Mon 28 Sep 2026, 06:11 PM

Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary has undergone surgery after suffering a compound fracture of his left leg against the Knights at Accor Stadium on Sunday.

Cleary had only been on the field for 10 minutes after coming off the bench in his return from a foot injury suffered in the qualifying final a fortnight ago.

Cleary posted a message of thanks from his hospital bed following the procedure.

An update from Nathan 🫶🏽 pic.twitter.com/8HJ4KWVbyT
— Penrith Panthers 🐾 (@PenrithPanthers) September 28, 2026

The No.7 was attacking the line when he was dragged down by Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland, who was sent off for the hip-drop tackle.

Penrith officials quickly confirmed it was a compound fracture as Cleary left the field and was transported to hospital.

Coach Ivan Cleary confirmed post-match that Nathan would also require surgery to repair a broken right foot which he had carried into the match.

Cleary praises team who played through the pain

That was the injury he suffered against the Roosters in the qualifying final but bravely took the field in the preliminar final.

The Panthers coach also confirmed that co-captain Isaah Yeo had played with a fully torn pectoral muscle and fullback Dylan Edwards was nursing a knee injury.

Youngster Blaize Talagi collapsed to the ground untouched in the second half and received treatment before being helped from the field with an Achilles injury.

Roosters utility Connor Watson is in doubt for the grand final after failing a HIA during the first half of Friday night's win over the Dolphins.

Watson was scrapping for a loose ball on the ground in the 32nd minute and copped an accidental hip to the head from Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

He was sent for a head injury assessment which he failed and was ruled out for the remainder of the match.

"That was a hard one because it came out as a Category 2 and then he went in to do it [the assessment] and they changed it to a Category 1 after a couple of minutes," coach Trent Robinson said post-match.

"He's in the middle of doing his tests now to see where he's at because he got ruled out of the game so I'd say that's still 'watch this space' on Connor.

"We'll see how the tests go."

The 30-year-old will now enter the concussion protocols and is in danger of missing next Sunday's grand final.

Roosters halfback Sam Walker made his return just three weeks after undergoing syndesmosis surgery and played 68 minutes before being given an early mark.

Walker suffered the injury in Round 26 and missed the Round 27 game against Souths and the two finals clashes against the Panthers and Sharks.

To view the complete NRL Casualty Ward, please visit the hub page.