Cleary Could Be Back by Round Four After Double Surgery; Talagi Faces Six-Month Achilles Rehab

Penrith's battered roster got a measure of good news in today's NRL casualty-ward update, with Dally M Medal winner Nathan Cleary tracking ahead of worst-case fears after surgery on both legs. The star halfback suffered a compound fracture of his left leg in the preliminary-final loss to Newcastle — he was taken straight to hospital for an operation to insert a plate and screws — and also required surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right foot, the injury he had carried into the finals after the win over the Roosters. Panthers Group CEO Andrew Hill told 2GB's Continuous Call Team that the surgeon's indication is "everything going to plan," adding: "Round 1 to Round 4 we're expecting him to be back. As good as news as we could have hoped from a terrible, terrible injury." The news was worse for fellow Panther Blaize Talagi, who tore his Achilles in the same preliminary-final defeat and is facing six months of rehabilitation, while fullback Dylan Edwards also injured his knee in the loss to the Knights. On the World Cup front, co-captain Isaah Yeo confirmed he will delay surgery on his pectoral muscle to lead the Kangaroos at the tournament, which opens October 15 in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. "The injury is feeling good and I feel like I can perform at a level that the country needs," Yeo said.