The Penrith Panthers will reportedly "err on the side of caution" and rest Nathan Cleary for their grand final rematch against the Melbourne Storm this week, giving way to an "intriguing" situation with potential replacement Matt Burton.
Cleary was clobbered over the head by former teammate Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the Panthers' 28-0 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday. The halfback was taken for an HIA, which he passed, but played no further part in the match.
His next couple of days will be crucial in guiding judgment on his availability for the Storm blockbuster. Any signs of concussion symptoms could put him in jeopardy, and a tight five-day turnaround won't help the situation.
Sydney Morning Herald chief sports writer Andrew Webster claimed the early mail out of Penrith pointed to Cleary sitting on the sidelines on Thursday.
"The word I got out of the Panthers, I don't think he'll play," Webster told Nine's 100% Footy.
"They think it's only Round Three. Why risk it?
"He passed his HIA, as a result, he doesn't have to get the independent assessment.
"But the way they're talking at the Panthers is they'll err on the side of caution, particularly because they've got a player like Matt Burton waiting in the wings."
Should Cleary be sidelined, it opens up an "intriguing" opportunity for Burton – whose name has been at the centre of a standoff between the Panthers and his future club the Bulldogs – to step into the halves.
Burton was one of the Bulldogs' first signings under new coach Trent Barrett, agreeing to head to Belmore for the 2022 season. But with his path to first-grade footy this season blocked by Cleary, Jarome Luai and Tyrone May, he has started the season in reserve grade.
Major Bulldogs sponsor Arthur Laundy said Penrith were "not thinking of the lad", imploring the club to grant Burton an early release to the Dogs, but the Panthers are holding firm.
Asked by Sharks great Paul Gallen "if there was anything in" Cleary's looming omission being a ploy to quell some of the noise around Burton, Webster was unconvinced.
"I don't think they would because it's a grand final rematch," he said.
"But it's intriguing the way it's sort of worked out with a lot of talk around if he's going to be available or not.
"I just think they don't see the need in risking Nathan this early in the season."
But NRL Guru and former Panthers supremo Phil Gould believes the decision around Cleary's availability would ultimately fall with the man himself.
"I'm not ruling Nathan Cleary out yet, I mean you're all saying what Panthers management might be saying, but Nathan Cleary might be having a big say in it," he said.
"I doubt he wants to miss this game on Thursday night, I'm sure he'll want to play. And I think he's got a bit of sway with the coach. I think Nathan Cleary might be having the last say.
"It happened late in the game, he could have well come back on if he was needed, they just didn't bother to put him back on. He could have come off, passed his test and gone back on. So, I wouldn't rule Nathan Cleary out just yet."
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