The Penrith Panthers might be celebrating the return of their superstar co-captain Nathan Cleary for finals, but they are also preparing the departure of James Fisher-Harris and Jarome Luai.
It looms as a bitter-sweet moment for the club and enforcer Scott Sorensen gave a rare glimpse of all the emotion that is running behind the scenes as the Panthers push for an incredible fourth consecutive flag.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nathan Cleary returns as Scott Sorensen gets emotional.
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7NEWS chief NRL reporter Jelisa Apps said the “quietly spoken Scott Sorensen never gives too much away …”
But she said “there was one question that caught the forward off guard and had him choking back tears” during their interview.
“The vulnerable side of one of the Penrith Panthers tough guys (on show),” Apps said.
And that question was about — needless to say — his soon-to-be ex-teammate Fisher-Harris, whose request to return home to New Zealand was granted by the club in August.
“Of all the players you’ve had to say goodbye to, is James Fisher-Harris one of the hardest?” Apps asked Sorensen.
Sorensen was suddenly overcome with emotion.
“Yeah, I think so, yeah definitely” he said as he started to fight back tears. “Yeah. .. oh, you got me on the spot. Yeah it is,” he said.
The Penrith second rower then tried to re-group.
“They’re pumped and they’re excited for the occasion this weekend and I’m putting all our energy towards that … (but) you got me there, sorry,” he said again.
“I just love them.
“The bond and the brotherhood we have here it’s so special.”
Meanwhile, Cleary got the final tick of approval on his left shoulder on Wednesday, almost a month after going down against Melbourne in Round 24.
The 28-year-old has been subjected to contact training at Penrith for more than a week, and in recent days had NSW Cup players testing out the joint.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said that the club had never considered holding back his son, Nathan, any longer.
“He’s fit, and this was always the plan to play him this week,” coach Cleary said.
“The stakes have moved up, and we always want to pick our best team and he is ready this week.”
Nathan Cleary is not expected to require pain-killing needles to play, after he first suffered shoulder instability in the pre-season.
A win on Friday night would send the Panthers through to the preliminary final, potentially giving Cleary another week off.
But standing in the way of that happening is the Sydney Roosters and Angus Crichton … who will make sure Cleary’s shoulder is tested again.
“We’ll make sure we welcome him back,” Crichton said.
“A lot of game plans in league is big guys running at smaller guys. And Nathan is by no means a smaller guy. He’s one of the best defensive halves in the competition.
“Every week, you prepare for it. The back-rower is running at the halfback, that’s what happens in every single game.
“So I’ll be preparing like I prepare for every other game. It’s always my job to try and nullify the opposition’s best player. And he’s the best player.”
– With AAP