In a gruesome aftermath to the Panthers' 22-14 preliminary-final loss to Newcastle, the Panthers exited with Dylan Edwards playing through a ruptured PCL, Isaah Yeo a ruptured pec and Blaize Talagi off with an Achilles rupture.
The injuries ultimately cursed the Panthers after they led the Knights 14-6 at halftime, and will likely have long-term ramifications for Australia in the end-of-season World Cup.
Penrith had hoped to get Cleary through Sunday's game unscathed after keeping him and his injured right foot on the bench for the opening 25 minutes.
But 10 minutes later the superstar halfback was exiting the field on the back of a medicab sucking on a green whistle, after a hip-drop tackle from Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland.
Crossland was sent off, with Cleary's ankle also dislocated and his mother Bec among those in the stands in tears.
"He watched the game in the ambulance, but it made him feel worse probably," coach Ivan Cleary said.
"I went and saw him at halftime and saw the whole crew and my family were in there. That was a bit hard, it was a bit emotional. But the show goes on."
Cleary also confirmed his son had been battling a broken bone in his right foot, after Penrith had previously been coy on the nature of a "stress-related bone issue".
The Penrith halfback had been in doubt for Sunday's match in the lead up, after he limped through the end of their week-one win over the Sydney Roosters.
"He'll have to get the other foot done as well, because that was broken as well," Ivan Cleary said.
"That's why I was even more emotional with what happened to him because I knew what he went through to get himself right to play today."
Beyond their halfback, Edwards was hurt when making a break in the opening half, and Talagi limped off with 13 minutes to play.
Yeo, meanwhile, returned from a ruptured pec to play in the finals. He will now require surgery, with the Kangaroos captain in doubt for the World Cup.
Eventually, the injuries told, as Penrith's hopes of a fifth premiership of their dynasty and sixth grand final in seven years faded away in Sandon Smith's brilliance.
And as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract, Cleary underlined his importance to the Panthers machine which malfunctioned without him.
While Newcastle battled and pushed on, the Panthers made seven second-half errors.
Winger Tom Jenkins kicked the ball away on the first tackle and made mistakes coming out of his own end.
When Newcastle hit the lead through Smith in the 60th minute, the Panthers all had their backs turned as the Knights halfback took a quick tap and surged away to score.
Penrith players complained about Smith's try, which came after a high shot penalty, and their frustrations came to the fore.
Jack Cogger dropped a ball cold and Luke Garner chucked a pass into touch after being sent on at centre for Talagi.
Then as the Panthers pushed for a winner in the final minute, Liam Martin threw a ball infield.
Smith was on hand to intercept and the halfback raced the length to score and send the Knights into the grand final.
