The Panthers took it easy by benching Moses Leota in the end.

In a prudent move, Ivan Cleary opted to substitute Moses Leota out of Penrith’s match against St George Illawarra, exercising caution amidst the busy State of Origin period and the Panthers’ growing list of absentees.

The three-time premiership-winning prop sustained a hamstring tweak during the first half of Saturday night’s NRL clash against the Dragons at BlueBet Stadium. Although initial assessments suggested the injury was minor and Leota could potentially return, the 28-year-old remained sidelined after his initial stint on the field.

Coach Cleary emphasized that given the Panthers’ depleted squad, with five players absent due to State of Origin commitments and several others sidelined with injuries, it wasn’t worth risking Leota’s health in the round-13 fixture. With key players already unavailable, Cleary opted for caution to prevent exacerbating Leota’s injury and further depleting the team’s resources.

In a strategic move, Ivan Cleary opted to play it safe by substituting Moses Leota out of Penrith’s recent clash against St George Illawarra. This decision comes amid the Panthers facing the potential loss of yet another player during the already demanding State of Origin period.

During the first half of Saturday night’s NRL encounter against the Dragons at BlueBet Stadium, the three-time premiership-winning prop sustained a hamstring tweak. Although initial assessments suggested the injury was minor and Leota could potentially return, the 28-year-old ultimately remained sidelined after his initial stint on the field.

Coach Cleary emphasized that given the Panthers’ depleted squad, with five players absent due to State of Origin commitments and several others sidelined with injuries, it wasn’t worth risking Leota’s health in the round-13 fixture. With key players already unavailable, Cleary opted for caution to prevent exacerbating Leota’s injury and further depleting the team’s resources.

“It’s a little strange because it felt like he presented quite well. But there was no way I was going to risk him tonight,” Cleary stated, underscoring the importance of prioritizing player welfare amidst the grueling NRL season.

Leota’s absence adds to the challenges faced by the Panthers during the demanding State of Origin period, where they are already missing several key players to representative duty. As the Panthers eagerly await updates on Leota’s condition, they remain focused on navigating through the challenges posed by the Origin window while maintaining their competitive edge in the NRL competition.

With the bye week preceding games two and three of the Origin series, Cleary and his coaching staff are strategically planning for the availability of their Origin stars for the upcoming round-14 clash against Manly. However, decisions regarding player selection will be contingent upon various factors, including player fitness and recovery post-Origin matches.