Behind The Moment: Magical two-minute Nathan Cleary sequence sets up mouth-watering Jahrome Hughes showdown

No one in the NRL dominates the big moments better than Nathan Cleary. MICHAEL CARAYANNIS analyses the moment the Panthers star broke the Sharks - and how he can break the Storm. WATCH THE VIDEO

These games are won on big moments. And the biggest moment player in the game at the moment is Nathan Cleary and it happened either side of halftime where he stamped his authority on the game.

Within two minutes Cleary – channelling his heroics from the 2023 grand final at the same venue that sunk Brisbane – turned the game in Penrith’s favour.

The game was locked in an arm wrestle with only penalty goals scored by both teams inside the opening 17 minutes in front of 33,753 people.

Defensively both teams were on and the opportunities with the football were few and far between.

At that point in the game, the Sharks were slightly building momentum and had an edge territoriality in the minute prior to the big moment.

That all changed thanks to some Cleary magic in the 21st minute.

Nathan Cleary lands an early 40/20 to turn the tide. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

Firstly off his boot with a 40/20 which just snuck into the 20 metre zone by centimetres with a perfectly angled kick.

He caught Cronulla fullback Will Kennedy and winger Sione Katoa out of position and despite protests from the pair the sideline official ruled the 40/20 was good.

Then with Cronulla on the back foot it was left to Cleary again in the following set.

Just two minutes later, he drifted to the left hand side of the field – having spent most of the match on the report – before throwing a ball that hit centre Paul Alamoti.

Nathan Cleary 40/20

Nathan Cleary try assist

Nathan Cleary kick try assist

Nathan Cleary clutches at shoulder

The uncertainty of Cronulla’s edge was exposed with Alamoti able to crash through opposite centre Siosifa Talakai to score and give the Panthers an 8-2 lead.

Cronulla had few opportunities in the first half but it couldn’t find anyone to own the moment when it eventually scored in the second half and it trailed 10-6.

The Sharks’ joy was short-lived thanks again to Cleary, who just three minutes after Cronulla’s try, laid on two tries in three minutes.

His first came off his boot with a cross-field kick to Brian To’o after 62 minutes.

The next was a cutout pass to Alamoti to finally end Cronulla’s season.

While Cleary might be the best player in the competition, he will come head to head with the NRL’s in-form player Jahrome Hughes.

Come kick-off in the grand final next Sunday night, Hughes should pocket the one award which Cleary – largely because of injuries - has yet to win, with the Storm playmaker a heavy favourite to walk away with a Dally M Medal on Wednesday night.

In Hughes you have the running threat. Cleary is the NRL’s ice man. A halfback battle for the ages awaits.