Star half felt responsible for Panthers’ poor start
Jasper Bruce |
The feeling that he was personally responsible for the lowest ebb of Penrith’s NRL dynasty, and State of Origin heartbreak, has combined to motivate Nathan Cleary back to his best.
The halfback has recaptured his elite form in recent months to help hoist the Panthers from last on the ladder in round 12 and into Sunday’s preliminary final against 2023 grand final foes Brisbane.
Undefeated in his past 14 finals games, Cleary has again dominated this year’s post-season, most recently starring as Penrith scored a record-breaking 36 first-half points in the semi-final defeat of Canterbury.
Penrith surged dramatically in form just as NSW’s State of Origin series was beginning to slip away; their season-defining 28-18 defeat of the Warriors came in the days that followed the Blues’ tight game-two loss in Perth.
The Panthers went on to win five consecutive matches after NSW’s meek performance in the decider, but asked whether Origin heartbreak had spurred him on, Cleary was philosophical.
“It was a big motivator, but that (playing well) is my job at the end of the day. We weren’t playing the way we wanted to at Penrith and I knew I was a big part of that,” he said.
“Not only on the field, but with my leadership too. I felt responsible for where we were. I wanted to turn that around amongst the rest of the boys.
“Origin was disappointing but I was already motivated as it was to play well for Penrith.”
A largely injury-free season has helped Cleary achieve that goal, with a one-game concussion lay-off the only club match he has missed over fitness concerns.
But in each of Penrith’s four premiership-winning campaigns, Cleary has missed significant time in the regular season.
A shoulder issue sidelined him ahead of finals in 2021, while suspension for a dangerous tackle and a hamstring injury conspired against the halfback in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Hamstring issues troubled Cleary throughout 2024 before a shoulder injury on the run to finals.
Those setbacks ruled him out of a combined 28 games across the past four years, with the 27-year-old pleased to be playing finals on the back of consistent footy.
“Hopefully you don’t jinx it,” he quipped.
“But it’s been nice, the last few years I’ve been coming off injuries or suspensions, to be able to get some continuity in footy has been really good.”
Cleary will seek more improvement as the Panthers’ streak of premierships goes on the line against the red-hot Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
“I just want to be playing my best footy at the right time of year and I feel like I’m coming into a pretty good patch at the moment,” he said.
“But I’m going to have to step up again tomorrow.”
AAP
