Nathan Cleary suffers horrific compound fracture as Phoenix Crossland sent off for dangerous hip-drop tackle

Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary has been taken from the field on a stretcher after a horrific incident that saw Newcastle’s Phoenix Crossland sent off.

Scores between the Panthers and Knights were level at 6-6 with five minutes remaining in the first half of the preliminary final at Accor Stadium when Cleary dummied near the try-line before taking a second tackle and resetting.

But as players around him started to get up off the ground, it immediately became clear that something wasn’t right.

Penrith officials immediately identified a compound fracture of Cleary’s left ankle, with the foot pointing the wrong way as he lay distraught on the ground.

Knights second-rower Francis Manuleleua noticed the injury straight away and called for help as Cleary lay on the ground in pain.

A stretcher and medical staff were rushed out to the four-time premiership champion, who was given the green whistle for pain relief as the game stopped.

Cleary’s mum Rebecca was in tears in the crowd as the “horrid” scene unfolded.

“What an awful moment in this match, in this season,” Andrew Voss added on Fox Sports.

“The stadium is silenced by that. The moment they caught a glimpse of that on the big screen, they knew that this was as serious as it gets.

“It’s a hard game, but this is an awful moment. An awful moment.

“I don’t care who you support, but this is a very sad moment for the game.”

Replays showed Crossland made a hip-drop tackle and fell awkwardly over Cleary’s leg, risking severe danger.

When Cleary was eventually cleared from the ground, referee Gerard Sutton sent Crossland off, reducing the Knights to 12 players as Penrith took an 8-6 lead from the penalty.

Cleary’s left leg was held in the air as he was driven off the ground on the stretcher.

The injury has serious ramifications for Penrith’s premiership hopes with their best player now gone, and also for those of the Australian Kangaroos at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

With the tournament set to start in just under three weeks, it wouldn’t take a surgeon to work out Cleary will be no chance in taking part.

Cleary had already been in doubt for Sunday’s match with bone damage in his right foot, and was held back to come off the bench against Newcastle.

He came onto the field in the 25th minute after stalking the sideline for the opening stages, waiting for his chance to enter the fray.

But the stress injury in his foot is now the least of Cleary’s concern.

Referee Gerard Sutton’s decision to send Crossland off made the Knights hooker the first player to be marched for a hip-drop tackle in the NRL.

“Initially he’s up high, he makes a definite action to twist,” Sutton told Crossland and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga. 

“He comes down on the leg with weight. There’s extreme risk of serious injury. You’re off.”

With AAP