Penrith's push for a fourth consecutive NRL premiership has been rocked after star halfback Nathan Cleary injured his left shoulder in the 24-22 loss to fellow heavyweights Melbourne.
Cleary went down clutching his left shoulder following a shot from Storm forward Trent Loiero while the scores were locked at 22-22 in the final 15 minutes of Thursday night's game at Panthers Stadium.
With his arm apparently in a sling, the 26-year-old watched from the sheds as the Storm clinched victory in a seesawing affair that lived up to its billing as one of the match-ups of the season.
Melbourne's Nick Meaney kicked the winning penalty goal with eight minutes to play after Panthers prop James Fisher-Harris was penalised for flooring Jahrome Hughes late.
With Cleary off the field, Dylan Edwards attempted a two-point field goal to level the scores just before the final siren but his attempt fell short and the Storm held on.
Cleary has suffered injury blows throughout the Panthers' title dynasty, most recently missing two months with a hamstring issue, spending time out with a right shoulder injury in 2021 and through suspension in 2022.
But navigating a finals series without the star halfback would be a new and greater challenge for the Panthers, who would likely need to parachute Daine Laurie or Jack Cole into the halves to partner Jarome Luai.
Thursday's win moves the Storm two wins clear atop the NRL ladder and almost guarantees them the minor premiership with three rounds to play.
But they could lose prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona in the run to finals after he was sin-binned for making high contact on Laurie in a shot that also knocked teammate Cameron Munster to the ground with a bloodied face.
Original story by Michael Doyle
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