Penrith’s star playmaker Nathan Cleary was candid about the discomfort he experienced following a heavy hit from Sharks’ Briton Nikora during their match in Las Vegas.
The bone-jarring tackle by Nikora left the four-time premiership-winning halfback struggling for air late in the Panthers’ hard-fought 28-22 win on Sunday.
As he lay on the ground for a moment, Cleary slowly got back to his feet.
“They really sting… nothing hits harder,” remarked Andrew Johns during his commentary on Nine.
Nathan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers is winded by Briton Nikora. Nine
“He’s still feeling it.”
“I think that took the wind out of him… Penrith need their halfback back on his feet,” Mat Thompson noted.
As Cleary received assistance from a trainer on the field, Penrith managed to secure a strong position.
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However, the 27-year-old quickly returned to play, rejoining his teammates to help secure victory.
Reflecting on the incident after the match, Cleary admitted that it was a tough shot to recover from.
“I was grade five winded,” he joked.
“I couldn’t catch my breath. Honestly, I felt like such a wuss, but I got back up and got on with it.”
This hard-fought win marks the beginning of the Panthers’ pursuit of a fifth consecutive premiership, but Cleary remained focused on the team’s performance rather than the excitement of playing in Las Vegas.
“A bit rusty, but very pleased to secure a win in round one,” stated Cleary.
“What a place this is. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the field is incredible.
“Playing in Vegas was an amazing experience. It’s just mind-blowing.”
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