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Samurai Panther: Cleary already Penrith's master shogun
Scott Bailey, AAP • September 24th, 2025 5:20 pm
Poised Panther Nathan Cleary has achieved a Zen-like status in finals matches and big moments | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Long before Nathan Cleary became a student of the samurai, Penrith's star No.7 had already adopted the discipline of the revered Japanese warrior.
Again shaping as the key player of this year's NRL finals, Cleary offered a brief insight into his mindset with his samurai celebration in Sunday's masterclass against Canterbury.
Afterwards, the 27-year-old revealed he had been reading up on the topic, while helping spearhead the Panthers' revival from the bottom of the ladder.
Penrith have always used themes to define each of their premiership successes, finding new ways every season to differentiate one campaign from the next.
Last year, the buzz word was "Legacy". In 2023 they wore UFC-style belts as the undisputed champions.
In 2022 there were Top Gun motifs, and the year before that they climbed Everest in Queensland while battling a number of injuries on the way to the group's first title.
Penrith are often hesitant to give much away before a success is complete, but Brian To'o did admit this week players were "slowly trying to tap into" the samurai.
And in Cleary they have their most obvious shogun.
A master of consistency whose game rarely drops below an 8-out-of-10, Cleary embraces the ideas of loyalty and selflessness, according to teammates.
And for years he has shown the way of the warrior, having achieved a Zen-like status in finals matches and big moments.
Nathan Cleary channels his inner samurai after scoring a try against the Bulldogs | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"He's just so consistent in the way he prepares every week that he gives himself every chance to play like that," hooker Mitch Kenny said.
"He is human and he is going to have days where he doesn't play as well, but he's going to give himself no excuses.
"He's never going to play not as well because he didn't sleep well or eat the right things.
"He gives himself every opportunity to play great, and more often than not he does."
With Cleary at No.7, the Panthers have now won 14 straight finals matches.
The half has been instrumental in most of those, scoring five tries and setting up 22.
"It's almost beautiful to watch, because you see how professional he is," second-rower Scott Sorensen said.
"Sometimes you catch yourself going, 'that was sick to watch' ... You just have to appreciate the moment."
With Nathan Cleary playing at No.7, the Panthers have won 14 consecutive finals matches | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Sorensen is not alone in his admiration.
"I stand on the wing and I am honestly in awe of the way he plays the game," winger Paul Alamoti said.
"He doesn't miss a play and doesn't miss an inch.
"I just stand out there and idolise him and the way he goes about his business, and when he passes me the ball do my best to try and score."
Almost all Penrith players asked identify Cleary's 2023 grand final masterclass as their favourite moment from the No.7.
Some 11 Broncos still remain from that day, with Cleary at the centre of the most heartbreaking moment of their careers.
Nathan Cleary evades Brisbane's Reece Walsh to score the match-winning try in the 2023 decider | Photo: James Gourley/AAP
Cleary's dominance over the Broncos extends to outscoring them on his own in their past four clashes, while his try at Magic Round this year reeked of the 2023 title-winner.
Brisbane must find a way to be free of mind when Cleary has ball in hand.
This week, they have already attempted to play down the aura, with their own king of chaos Reece Walsh.
Asked on Tuesday how the Broncos would deal with Cleary, Walsh responded: "How does he deal with us?"
And after Walsh and Ezra Mam had their way with Cleary's right edge at stages of the 2023 grand final, the Panthers know they have to be on.
"He's a dangerous player and he's quite exciting and has that X-factor," Cleary's right-hand man on that edge Liam Martin said.
"From memory (I think we've handled him) pretty well, but there have been times like in 2023 when he had his moments.
"We're going to have to do a job on him, but it's going to have to be a team effort, not just one or a couple of players. Everyone is going to have to work together."
Sport Nation has live commentary of the Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos NRL Preliminary Final - available on the Sport Nation app from 6pm Sunday, kick-off 7.05pm NZT.
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