Nathan Cleary has made a bold statement following a horrific injury that has ruled him out of the Rugby League World Cup. The 28-year-old Australia star declared, "I'll be back," after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation to his left ankle during a match for the Penrith Panthers against the Newcastle Knights in the NRL play-offs on Sunday.

Cleary, who played a pivotal role in helping Australia clinch the World Cup four years ago, underwent emergency surgery after sustaining the injury from a tackle by Phoenix Crossland. The Knights hooker was sent off for a 'hip-drop' tackle, a move outlawed by the NRL since 2020.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cleary expressed gratitude for the support he received:

Surgery done... Thank you so much to everyone that has reached out, the support has been unbelievable. Yesterday sucked but it's all part of the journey and it's made me even more grateful for the people I have around me. I'll be back.

Cleary had started the match on the bench due to a pre-existing injury to his right foot, which had a broken bone. His father, Ivan Cleary, head coach of the Panthers, shared his emotional response to the situation, emphasizing the hard work his son had put in to play despite the injury.

Following the incident, Crossland is now facing disciplinary action from the NRL Judiciary, which could result in a lengthy suspension, impacting his participation in the upcoming NRL Grand Final and potentially the World Cup.

Australia is set to face New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match on 15 October in Sydney, with both teams being strong contenders for the final on 15 November in Brisbane.