Nathan Cleary plans to make it rain bombs on Newcastle at Pepper Stadium

PENRITH halfback Nathan Cleary plans to make it rain floating bombs at a soggy Pepper Stadium on Friday night.

NATHAN Cleary plans to make it rain floating bombs at a soggy Pepper Stadium on Friday night.

The teenage Panthers halfback has not been afraid to attempt the tricky yet effective spiralling bomb this season, and caused the Sydney Roosters all sorts of problems last weekend.

Cleary said he had spent endless hours practising the floating bomb over the summer, and even roped in Panthers supremo Phil Gould for a few sessions. Gould often observed how Cleary’s bombs would land.

At just 19, only a handful of other halfbacks, most notably Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk, have the confidence to regularly use the spiralling bomb.

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“I worked on it a fair bit during the pre-season, just putting them up to the outside backs,’’ Cleary said ahead of the home game against Newcastle.

“The other night it felt right to put them up, it wasn’t too windy, so I thought I’d give it a crack, and I was lucky a few came off.

“It’s hard to perfect, and I still haven’t. They come off the boot alright (against the Roosters), but there will be days where I have a few shockers and they might go out on the full.

“It’s something I do on my own. We have ‘Hilly’ (Damien Hill) here, and Gus came out on to the field one day to help me out with different types of bombs. It wasn’t an easy thing to picture but he was out there with me.’’

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Cleary was spotted after training on Thursday sending a few up to the heavens.

Plenty of fullbacks and wingers have been caught in two minds as the ball swerves through the air and they more often than not allow it to bounce.

Cleary has done the majority of kicking the opening three rounds for the Panthers as five-eighth Te Maire Martin continues to build his confidence and fitness.

Cleary is ready to test the Knights’ hands. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Penrith were unlucky not to beat the Roosters last weekend — referees boss Tony Archer conceded the Roosters scored from a forward pass — and will back themselves to bounce back against the spirited Knights.

They will be without Bryce Cartwright for a second week as he continues to overcome bone bruising to his ankle, but is expected to return next weekend against Melbourne.

Cleary said the Knights looked ”very resilient and a tight squad’’. They have a brilliant record at the foot of the mountains with 12 wins in 22 visits.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night former favourites Ryan Girdler and Carl MacNamara received Panthers’ life memberships at the club’s AGM.