Sleepless nights end like a dream for Penrith’s Nathan Cleary

DESPITE cutting a composed figure in the clutch moments, Penrith’s Nathan Cleary endured sleepless nights visualising every single possible outcome to Friday night’s nailbiter.

Nathan Cleary celebrates kicking a conversion to send the match into golden point.

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“Clutch Cleary.”

“‘That’s your headline for tomorrow’, Penrith’s Josh Mansour declared as he walked past the media pack waiting to talk to the man of the moment.

Only 20 minutes prior, Nathan Cleary delivered two decisive plays under extreme circumstances to steal a 9-8 victory against Wests Tigers on Friday night.

The Panthers halfback nailed a sideline conversion to level to score after full time and then iced the winning field goal from 40 metres out during golden point.

Cleary’s nerves of steel turned out to be the perfect postscript to the ‘Cleary Clan’ storyline that captivated league fans during the week.

Nathan Cleary of the Panthers celebrates with his teammates after kicking the winning field goal.

The lead-up to Friday night’s game was dominated by headlines about his dad Ivan’s contentious departure from Concord and about the disdain some Tigers players still felt about the coach’s defection to Penrith.

Cleary senior did his best to play down the grudge match narrative, possibly sensing it was beginning to rattle his 21-year old son.

You see, despite cutting a composed figure in those clutch moments, Nathan endured sleepless nights visualising every single possible outcome to Friday night’s nailbiter.

“I thought about it in my head all week. I was struggling to sleep just thinking about how the game was going to end,” Cleary revealed.

“I’ve thought of that kick [sideline conversion] a thousand times over in my mind. I’ve dreamt about it … down at the park a million times when no one was watching.

Nathan Cleary o celebrates kicking a conversion to send the match into golden point during the round four NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Wests Tigers at Panthers Stadium on April 05, 2019 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

“I thought the field goal over in my head before. You couldn’t write about it. It’s crazy.”

The sense of relief from Cleary in the change rooms following the match was palpable. He realised the enormity of the win not only for personal reasons but its significance in turning around a poor start to his side’s season and it showed.

“Winning solves everything. Me and dad spoke about that during the week, we need a few wins on the board,” he said.

“It’s a massive relief. It means a lot, obviously with a lot of media around this week. We don’t want to make it about us, especially myself and dad.

“It was Dal’s 100th, it’s a massive achievement, club junior. And also our home fans. As special as it is for me and dad, it’s for the whole team, it’s the fans as well.

“There were a lot bigger things to play for.”

While Cleary was buoyed by victory he conceded his side’s attack is still a work in progress.

Dylan Edwards’ try in 79th minute was Penrith’s first four pointer in 194 minutes of football.

“Our attack wasn’t great but we created a lot of opportunities and we just need to ice it. So we are building there and we trusting the process. Hopefully tonight can kick start it,” he said.

Originally published as Sleepless nights end like a dream for Penrith’s Nathan Cleary