Rugby league legend Cameron Smith believes their is more short-term pain for the Penrith Panthers as they sweat on the return of halfback Nathan Cleary.

The Panthers clash with the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night but Smith believes Penrith won’t have enough firepower to knock off a battered Roosters outfit on a four-game winning run.

“Roosters have found a bit of form and the Panthers have lost a few players,” Smith told SEN.

“I think Sydney will win this.”

Meanwhile there are reports Panthers superstar Viliame Kikau won’t be re-signing with Penrith any time soon and wants to test himself on the open market according to The Western Weekender’s Masked Panther.

Kikau is off contract for the 2023 season and the Panthers will do well to keep him.