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Nathan Cleary Undergoes Surgery for Broken Ankle, Promises Comeback

WHY IT MATTERS

Cleary’s injury and the ensuing scrutiny of NRL rule changes highlight player safety concerns and may influence future policy decisions in the league.

What happened

Nathan Cleary, the star half‑back for the Sydney Roosters, underwent surgery on a badly broken ankle after a collision in a recent NRL match. In a post‑surgery Instagram update, he thanked supporters and wrote, “I’ll be back,” signalling his intention to return to play. The injury occurred during a game that has sparked debate over recent rule changes. Former NRL star Billy Slater has publicly questioned the league’s adjustments, claiming they contributed to the incident that caused Cleary’s injury. The Roosters and NRL officials are monitoring Cleary’s recovery as the season progresses.

PRIMARY SOURCES

'I'll be back': Cleary vows to return after surgery

ABC News Australia · Simon Smale · Discovery only; ABC copyright terms apply

CORRECTIONS & UPDATES

  1. Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Sep 28, 2026, 1:16 PM
  2. Revision 2 · Source update detected · Sep 28, 2026, 1:16 PM
By THELAST.NEWS Editorial System · AI-assistedRevision 3Approved independent source