‘Clutch king’: Nathan Cleary’s 43m golden point field goal blows NRL away

The NRL world has been given an instant reminder of what they were missing as Nathan Cleary did the unthinkable after 10 weeks out.

Nathan Cleary, you freak! Photo: Fox Sports and Getty Images

Nathan Cleary’s NRL return has had a Hollywood ending with the halfback booting a 43m field goal to snatch a 28-26 golden point thriller over the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.

Cleary had been sidelined since round 10 after the recurrence of a hamstring injury earlier in the year ruined his Origin hopes.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

But after a Blues series win, the 26-year-old superstar has given a timely reminder of just what he can do.

In his first match in two and a half months, Cleary finished the match with 16 runs for 115m as well as two try assists and two line break assists, as well as the matchwinning play.

Having been down 26-12 midway through the second half, it appeared the Panthers were heading for a second straight loss at home.

But the Panthers showed just why they’re chasing a fourth straight premiership, romping back into the match to force golden point extra-time.

Cleary had taken a shot from wide to the left earlier in regular time with the attempt falling short, but he made no mistake in golden point, nailing the 43m stunner to send the Panthers faithful into hysterics.

“Nathan Cleary is back,” Andrew Voss screamed.

“Cool as a cucumber, his first game since round 10, golden point field goal — that is a magic moment in season 2024.”

He added it was “quite unbelievable”.

And he did the “ice in his veins” celebration made famous in the NBA by Lakers star D’Angelo Russell in 2016.

Ice in his veins! Photo: Fox Sports

“That’s how you do it young fella” — Nathan Cleary, probably. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

It’s something Dolphins halfback and former Panther Isaiya Katoa may have to learn after he gave up a field-goal attempt from 10m out directly in front with two minutes left, instead opting to kick across field.

It was a miss coach Wayne Bennett lamented but didn’t blame on his young half.

“I’m not blaming him at all, I’m just telling you that was the moment in the game (where we should have won it) and we wouldn’t have gone to golden point,” Bennett said in his post-match press conference.

But it was Cleary’s day once again and fans lost it for the halfback.

One fan said: “There is 1 (one) clutch king in this game and his name is Nathan Cleary.”

Another commented: “Nathan Cleary the league has missed your excellence.”

A third said: “That’s what Nathan Cleary does I guess. Big moments.”

Another suggested: “No playmaker I have seen play in almost 60 years ices the big moments better than Cleary not even Joey! In fact no one comes close!”

A fifth commented: “It is a pleasure watching the career of Nathan Cleary. I appreciate how good he is and how good he will become.”

Having come into the game without their Origin stars, the Panthers were happy to welcome Cleary’s timely return.

Penrith coach, and Nathan’s father, Ivan Cleary said: “It’s pretty handy having him there,”

“A little bit of rust around as well but obviously very handy to have today, a huge play at the end.

“I was happy with a lot of things we did today.”

What a moment from Nathan Cleary. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

It was a huge moment from so far out as if Nathan missed, it would have led to a seven-tackle set and potentially a shot for the Dolphins at the other end.

“I just backed myself. It’s probably more instinct,” Nathan said of the moment.

“If you can get a shot and you know you can get the distance, you take it.

“On the third tackle I was thinking there was no way I was having a shot but Daine (Lawrie) and Matt Eisenhuth had two great carries and I knew I was going to have no pressure and the wind behind my back.”

Cleary wasn’t sure if the ball was going over moments after it left his right boot.

“I kicked it as sweet as I could and knew it was straight and as it was in the air (Mitch) Kenny turned around and started running at me and I was still watching it hoping it would get over,” Cleary said.

“When it went over it was pretty surreal, the boys running in — those are the moments you play for. A lot of work goes into it.”

Cleary said he felt good physically but added: “I knew I was not going to come back and be perfect”.

With Matt Jones, NewsWire