Cleary had been named to start against the Knights on Tuesday as he continues to battle a foot problem suffered in the first week of the finals season.
Jack Cogger makes a timely return from a three-game suspension and slots into the number seven role despite head coach Ivan Cleary declaring on Saturday morning that Cleary "will be ready" to take part in Penrith's crucial preliminary final.
It was one of three matchday changes made by Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, who also dropped Lindsay Smith and Isaiah Papali'i to the bench for Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen.
The extended six-man bench gives Cleary the opportunity to rest his son entirely if the match situation allows, and television pundit and NRL household name Phil Gould expects Nathan to only be used out of complete necessity.
"I don’t think he will be used if he doesn’t have to be,” Gould told Channel Nine.
“It says to me that he is not 100 per cent right; otherwise they would be starting him in such an important game.
“They have obviously known all week, which is why they were hiding the training sessions and remained so coy about Nathan’s conditions.
“If he was 85 per cent fit, he would be starting. There first hope will be that they don’t need him.
"If they do, just how much can he help them given his condition?”
The Knights did not make any late changes to their team that was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
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Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018 and, as the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, has reported on-site at several major events in Melbourne including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. You can read his pieces here and contact him on X or LinkedIn.
