‘I was in awe’: Johnathan Thurston’s high praise for Nathan Cleary after ‘best’ grand final performance of all time

Johnathan Thurston’s field goal in the 2015 grand final is one of the most iconic moments of all time, but even he was in awe of Nathan Cleary this year.

Johnathan Thurston was in awe watching Nathan Cleary dominate the NRL grand final. Picture: Adam Head

Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston had one of the greatest grand final moments back in 2015, but he says he was in “awe” watching Nathan Cleary conjure a comeback for the ages a few weeks ago and it’s scary to think just how good the Panthers halfback will be in a few years.

Thurston kicked the famous field goal in the 2015 decider to break Broncos hearts in golden point, and it was another superstar halfback who twisted the knife in to deny Brisbane its first premiership in 17 years.

Johnathan Thurston produced one of the most memorable grand final moments when he kicked a field goal to help the Cowboys beat Brisbane in golden point in 2015. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Broncos hadn’t been in a grand final since that Cowboys game and looked certain to snap their title drought when they raced out to a 24-8 lead thanks to an Ezra Mam hat-trick, only for Cleary to produce perhaps the finest 20-minute burst in NRL history to help Penrith to a third premiership on the trot.

The 25-year-old set up two tries, nailed a 40/20 and then crossed for the sealer with four minutes remaining despite playing with a serious finger injury to earn his second Clive Churchill Medal.

Some of the biggest names in the game described it as the best individual performance they’d ever seen, and Thurston – who will be an Immortal one day – can’t argue with those sentiments.

Nathan Cleary’s performance in the grand final left some of the game’s greatest players speechless. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“I can’t remember a more dominant performance than his last 20 minutes in the grand final,” Thurston said, moments before he was officially inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

“When they lost against Melbourne in 2020, he was the one who got his side back in the game but he couldn’t finish it off.

“I was in awe watching what he did against Brisbane. I thought it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.

“I think having Jarome Luai off injured and Isaah Yeo doing an HIA allowed him to really take control of the team, and that’s exactly what he did. It was one hell of a performance.”

Cleary has already won three comps, a World Cup and a couple of State of Origin series, and while there are some critics who want to see him do more for the Blues, he’s already on a path to greatness that has him in the same breath as Thurston and Andrew Johns.

The halfback is locked in long term at Penrith along with a number of their biggest stars, and while they’ll lose Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu, Thurston predicts the Panthers and Cleary will remain at the top for many years to come.

It’s all smiles in Penrith with Thurston tipping them to contend for more titles in the years to come. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

“It’s scary to think what he might be able to achieve,” the Cowboys, Maroons and Kangaroos great said.

“When you have success as a team, you obviously have to move players on, but it just seems like they’ve got an endless nursery out in western Sydney that’s coming through and they all seem to be able to perform at that level.

“It’s pretty scary to think what he can achieve barring injury. I’m looking forward to sitting back and watching him perform.”

Originally published as ‘I was in awe’: Johnathan Thurston’s high praise for Nathan Cleary after ‘best’ grand final performance of all time