Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is racing the clock and battling his way to the finish line as his shoulder continues to bother ahead of the NRL’s biggest night.

Cleary spent a fair portion of the season on the sidelines in 2024, with two separate stints sidelining the star due to a bothersome shoulder.

At the conclusion of the Panthers Grand Final qualifier, Cleary was clutching the shoulder that’s been giving him so much grief.

While he has been named to line up for the Panthers this Sunday, there’s no doubt that there’s a lingering question mark over his health.

For the Melbourne Storm, that question mark could be more shaped as a target for Craig Bellamy’s enforcers.

Former Melbourne Storm legend Cooper Cronk, who also has plenty of experience playing in Grand Finals with an injured shoulder, issued a warning for the halfback.

“If I’m the Melbourne Storm, I’m actually going to kick it to Nathan, and I want him to take the first carry,” Cronk said.

“I would make a statement physically about picking him up, dragging him out, throwing him around.

“Land the ball on about 30m, a little sand wedge, and he has to get it. And then everyone takes the handbrake off.”

While the Storm have remained fairly reserved in terms of their tactics in game, their Captain Harry Grant is adamant that Cleary’s shoulder is far from their minds.

Either way, it could lead to some heated on field dramatics on Sunday night.