Nathan Cleary's season may hang by the thread of his damaged left shoulder, but the Penrith Panthers superstar has found a reason to smile after girlfriend Mary Fowler rushed to his aid this week.
Cleary injured the joint against Melbourne on Thursday and faced initial fears he would require surgery and would be out for the rest of the year.
However scans cleared him of needing immediate surgery and he could now return for the NRL finals in September as the Panthers chase a record fourth consecutive NRL title.
Despite another frustrating injury setback after spending two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury already this season, Cleary was all smiles as he enjoyed time with girlfriend Fowler in the Blue Mountains on Saturday.