If there is a rugby league God, maybe he wears the Panthers No.7
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Fools are us. Why, after all these years, do we still doubt them? Or Him?
Last week, in a time otherwise known as Before Cleary, the best team of the NRL era just about looked done, staggering to the finish line at the end of a sapping regular season, and scraping past a team with their minds probably already in Bali. If some of Penrith’s players were racehorses, like Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin, and had walked into the mounting yard at Royal Randwick, you couldn’t possibly have your last on them, covered in strapping to all parts of the body. Their canny coach, when asked who should be favourites heading into the finals, just shrugged and said: “Not us”. That’s Melbourne. Who were we to argue?
But that was BC. If there is a rugby league God, he might wear the Panthers No.7.
In six days, with Nathan Cleary returning from a subluxed shoulder no one quite knows will make it all the way through to grand final day, the transformation of the Panthers was complete. They’re just 80 minutes away from a fifth straight berth in the decider, dispatching the patched-up Roosters 30-10 at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
It was fitting a familiar face put on one last show at the old girl, set to be bulldozed in coming months for a newer model. By the time they cut the ribbon, they could make a case to put Cleary’s name on a grandstand.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said a few weeks ago, with a wry smile, the only way to stop Cleary was with a shotgun. He might have only been half joking. What he saw on the opening night of the finals won’t do anything to change his mind.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Credit: Getty Images
There’s something mesmerising about the NRL’s most influential player, dancing across the field, with the ball in an outstretched right hand, leaving his rivals in a trance. Do they rush up out of the line and leave a gap for a ballrunner to surge through? Or wait and give Cleary more time, invariably leading him to find the right option anyway? There never seems a sensible way to solve the riddle.
It was one trick, but not the only one. He kicked for the upright, hit it, and the ball dropped at Izack Tago’s toes to score. He passed for his old mate Jarome Luai to dance over. There were long kicks, high kicks which caused Daniel Tupou’s knees to knock, chip kicks, terrifying banana kicks along the ground which always seem to get a result, soccer kicks Our Mary would have been proud of. Even when he mucked up, having a kick charged down by Connor Watson, he scurried back and dragged down the NSW State of Origin star metres out from the line.
And just when the game needed to put to bed, after a brief Roosters charge when trailing by 24 points, he subtly reminded the rest of the competition this glorious run won’t end on his watch, so as long as his hamstrings and busted wing are willing and able.
The contrast between No.7s couldn’t have been more glaring, Sandon Smith having a nightmare, typified by his boot stepping on the sideline as he picked up the ball at marker late in the second half. The Smith juggle, losing Brandon and adding Sandon, hasn’t treated the Roosters well so far.
The Panthers celebrate another try.Credit: Getty Images
Moments before Cleary jogged onto his personal playground for the last time, the banal task of checking the teamsheet an hour before kick-off to be across any late changes was a little more riveting this time. Ivan Cleary had lost back-rower Scott Sorensen and replaced him with halfback Brad Schneider on the bench; at first glance, an obvious insurance policy for his son’s crook shoulder.
Penrith has form in this department. They included Jack Cogger on the bench for last year’s grand final as Luai tried to nurse his own dodgy shoulder through 80 minutes, and when it couldn’t make it, Cogger climbed off the bench and helped Cleary rev the engine on the most remarkable grand final comeback.
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Schneider was there for insurance … for the last three minutes. By that time, Cleary had walked back to the bench with a smile on his face, unlike the scowl every time he’s pinged his hamstring or bent his shoulder out of shape in 2024. Only when he got there, the standing ovation from all parts of the ground subsided.
It was nothing like the worry which swept through the same bleachers seven days ago.
But that was BC. I guess the joke was on us.
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