The worst fears for Nathan Cleary’s future have been raised as the game’s best player starts his recovery from a shocking broken leg suffered in the preliminary final loss to the Knights.

Nathan Cleary thanks supporters after surgery on his badly broken ankle, writing "I'll be back" in an upbeat Instagram post. Meanwhile, Billy Slater questions the NRL over rule-changes that he says led to the incident that saw Cleary injured.

Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has lifted the lid on a ‘disappointing’ group of people that have continued to ‘abuse’ him over the years. Liam O'Loughlin

Veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans says it was “really difficult” to watch Nathan Cleary suffer a catastrophic injury in Sunday’s preliminary final, with the Roosters star sending his love and thoughts to Cleary’s family.

Nathan Cleary’s leg was held straight as he was taken from the field on Sunday to reduce the risk of cutting off the blood supply to his foot. Christian Nicolussi

Sandon Smith's two tries in the NRL preliminary final didn't just win Newcastle the game, it earned the Knights halfback a share of history alongside the club's greatest ever player.

Phoenix Crossland’s chances of playing in the NRL Grand Final and the Rugby League World Cup are hanging by a thread. Stuff sports reporters

Phoenix Crossland must argue his case at the NRL judiciary if he is any chance of playing in the grand final after he was cited for the hip drop that broke Nathan Cleary's leg.

What happens now if a player does a hip drop in the grand final — should it take another catastrophic injury for the match officials to act?

Justin Holbrook faces a huge selection headache with one of his key spine stars set to sit out of the grand final.