NRL 2020: Penrith Panthers secret training session at ANZ Stadium
Despite speculation Nathan Cleary could be rested ahead of Penrith’s minor premiership clinching game against the Cowboys, the Panthers were spotted at a behind-closed-doors training session at ANZ Stadium.
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Penrith champion Nathan Cleary slipped into ANZ Stadium on Tuesday for a secret kicking session as his red-hot Panthers prepare for a premiership tilt.
The Daily Telegraph has been told Cleary and some Panthers teammates travelled to Sydney Olympic Park for a behind-closed-doors training run which focused heavily on kicking.
Several media outlets were inside ANZ Stadium at the time but were warned against filming the training session.
It has clearly demonstrated Penrith has already started looking ahead to the season’s defining matches.
Cleary – the $7.50 favourite to win this season’s Clive Churchill Medal – practised his general kicking and goal kicking throughout the session from all angles.
Players have for years claimed kicking at ANZ Stadium, with its high grandstands on the eastern and western sides, can be tricky.
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It was a day session which Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary also attended, as did other Penrith players.
One source close to the club said: “They just want to be ahead of the game.”
The Daily Telegraph was told Penrith – on a history-making 13-game winning streak - may train at ANZ Stadium again before the finals.
Penrith will enjoy a week one final at Panthers Football Stadium but would play a preliminary final and then grand final - provided they advance - at ANZ Stadium.
Victory over North Queensland on Friday night will secure Penrith’s first minor premiership since 2003, the club’s last premiership-winning season.
Penrith finish the regular season against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium in round 20. That match will pit Panthers assistant coach Trent Barrett against the club he will coach from next season.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal Penrith will be handed the JJ Giltinan Shield following the Bulldogs game.
There are suggestions Penrith players will stay on-field at full-time to show off the treasured shield to loyal fans.
“It (the minor premiership) is a huge carrot for us,” said Ivan Cleary. “In football - the biggest sport in the world - it‘s their major premiership in most countries, if not all.
“We would definitely be very proud to achieve that. It‘s not done yet but we’re very keen to get our hands on that trophy, there is a great history on that shield.”
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Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher added: “We’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We have to play Friday night first. If we get a bit of luck and can beat the Cowboys, then we can win the minor premiership and not have to wait until the last game.”
Penrith is paying just $1.13 to beat North Queensland, who are massive $6 outsiders, according to TAB markets. The TAB also has also opened a market on Penrith’s next loss.
Cleary’s team is paying $9 to lose to Canterbury in round 20 and $1.22 to win both remaining regular-season matches. The Roosters are $2.90 premiership favourites with Penrith on the second line of betting at $3.75.
CLEARY’S DALLY M FATE IN HIS DAD’S HANDS
In a TikTok aftershock, star halfback Nathan Cleary is poised to stun rugby league by dismissing a controversial six-point deduction to become the first Panther in 35 years to claim the prestigious Dally M Medal.
That is the opinion of Penrith’s two greatest halfbacks – Greg Alexander and Craig Gower.
Cleary was docked six points after lying to the NRL over his role in the infamous COVID TikTok video scandal in April, which resulted in a two-game suspension.
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He plummeted from 11 points back to five, his Dally M chances having seemingly evaporated.
Yet Cleary’s elite performances during Penrith’s history-making 13 successive wins – according to Alexander and Gower – has the NSW halfback ready to somehow overcome the deduction and claim rugby league’s top individual award.
The prediction comes amid speculation Cleary may be rested during one of the final two rounds to give reserve halfback Matt Burton some much-needed game time. A concern though with resting Cleary is that it could cost him the Dally M Medal.
Despite the rumours, Cleary is expected to fly to Townsville for Friday night’s match against North Queensland where victory could secure Penrith their first minor premiership since 2003.
Alexander, a Panthers director, is the only Panther to have won the Dally M, his big night arriving in 1985.
“Absolutely Nathan can win it – I have no doubt he has made up those six points pretty quickly,” said Alexander.
“Nathan has had an incredible year, so consistent, he is churching out dominant game after dominant game.
“Thirteen straight wins for Penrith and you’d have to think he has been in the top three players just about every week. The six points mightn’t be an issue at all. He has made up those points – I really think he has.
“He’s been dominant in every one of those 13 wins so far. If he wasn’t docked the six points, he is winning it without a doubt. It will still take someone who has had a great season to beat him.”
Cleary was originally cleared after the TikTok video emerged but later suspended when sprung misleading the NRL integrity unit.
NRL rules state each week a player is suspended he loses three points. Cleary’s two-game ban equated to six Dally M points.
“They have now won 13 games in a row and that’s certainly been off the back of his performances,” Gower said.
“I can’t see why he can’t win it. Everything peels off what he does.
“When you win 13 in a row, they will probably win 15 in a row, there it is. If I was a betting man I’d be looking at Nathan and Cameron (Smith) as a one-two finish in the Dally M.
“It will depend on who is voting on the day but, don’t get me wrong, Nathan is certainly a chance.”
At the time of the TikTok drama, when voting went silent, Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant was leading on 13 points, one point clear of Melbourne’s Cam Smith and Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson.
Burton was named as a reserve for the Cowboys game in jumper 20.
Originally published as NRL 2020: Penrith Panthers secret training session at ANZ Stadium