‘Insane’: Nathan Cleary madness exposes ‘scary’ truth as Panthers thump Wahs

The Warriors are the feel-good story of the NRL this season but the two-time defending premiers didn’t care about the fairytale at all.

Nathan Cleary has destroyed the Warriors nearly single-handedly. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

The Penrith Panthers are now just two wins away from a 40-year-old slice of history after dominating the New Zealand Warriors 32-6 at BlueBet Stadium.

While the Warriors didn’t have Shaun Johnson, it’s unlikely he would have made much of a difference as the Panthers choked the visitors of ball throughout the match.

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The Panthers will now have a week off before playing the winner of the Storm and Sharks or Roosters, while the Warriors host its first home final since 2008 next week against the Knights or Raiders.

The Warriors may have been the story after their sacrifice during the Covid era and now taking the league by storm with their charge to the top four, but the Panthers had no room for sentimentality.

Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary has long been seen as arguably the best player in the game for some time but has often been slammed for the lack of polish when it comes to the State of Origin arena.

Nathan Cleary has the Panthers a win away from another grand final. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

But Panthers fans will have no problems if he keeps turning it on like he did against the Warriors.

Scoring 16 points, making two line breaks, two linebreak assists and a try assist, as well as a massive running game, Cleary orchestrated his side’s win.

Fox Sports reports that Cleary is the now the fifth highest point scorer in compulsory finals era (since 1954) history, moving past Hazem El Masri, Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer, James Maloney and Graeme Langlands with his 16-point tally.

Only Graham Eadie, Michael Cronin, Adam Reynolds and Cameron Smith are above him and Cleary still has many years ahead of him, having played only 17 finals games.

“He’s still only 25 with grand final rings, plural,” Andrew Voss said in commentary.

“And you would have to think his best footy is still in front of him, that’s the scariest part in all of it,” Michael Ennis said.

Post-match, Greg Alexander had nothing but praise for Cleary.

“(Cleary) was the star, there’s no doubt about who was the player of the match,” Alexander said.

“Nathan Cleary one of his best attacking games I’ve seen. His attacking numbers were incredible.”

Former Panthers cheerleader turned lawyer Nat Hanrahan tweeted: “Cleary was insane today he’s actually a finals king”.

NCA Newswire’s Martin Gabor posted: “Nathan Cleary is an artist and this is his masterpiece. One of the best games I’ve seen him play”.

Another commented: “Nathan Cleary proving he is truly generational”.

The result was set up in the first half with the Panthers choking the Warriors out of the match.

After 40 minutes, Penrith had 63 per cent of possession and 22 of 24 completions for 91 per cent in the first half to the Warriors’ 12 of 17 (70 per cent).

The Panthers had ran 926m, the Warriors 463m. The Panthers led line breaks 7-0, tackle breaks 30-15 and had 133 runs to 66.

On top of that, the Warriors have made 211 tackles to 145, as well as missing 33 to 15 from the Panthers.

After a kick was knocked on by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad late in the first half, Channel 9’s Mat Thompson said: “This is like water torture.”

At least the Warriors are still alive. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Speaking on Fox Sports, Andrew Voss said: “I would suggest, there’s probably other games where it might be 36-0.”

Michael Ennis added: “Without a doubt, they’ve been brave the Warriors.”

5.49pm — Cleary puts Warriors to bed

Nathan Cleary has put the full stop on the Panthers win, cutting through the Warriors put the nail in the coffin of the Warriors.

After holding the ball in one hand, he accelerated into the gap to cap an absolute masterclass.

While Cleary still needs to dominate an Origin series, he’s clearly not got any problem dominating for the Panthers as the side are into the prelim for the fourth straight season.

5.35pm — Panthers right the ship

Well that didn’t last long.

The Panthers have scored again to make it 26-6 with 16 minutes to go after riding a bit of luck.

In the previous set, the Warriors’ Wayde Egan couldn’t get to the ball with two Panthers in the ruck.

Shane Flanagan said it “maybe should have been a penalty” as the Panthers didn’t roll out of the ruck.

But after kicking, the Panthers worked their way back up the field and a chip from Nathan Cleary on the last saw two Warriors players pinged for an accidental off-side.

However, Liam Martin was also in the fray and appeared to have touched the ball.

Did he knock on? The bunker didn’t know, calling inconclusive and while the Warriors retain the challenge, the Panthers had the field position.

And they put it through the hands, putting Turuva in in the corner.

5.28pm — The Wahs are back, baby!

All of a sudden, there’s some life in the contest.

It’d been a scoreless second half until the 58th minute when the Warriors finally broke through.

The Panthers’ defence has been it’s usual brick wall-like self all game so it took something special to break it down.

NZ prop Mitch Barnett got a late offload away and got the ball to the outside with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak going down the sideline before ex-Panther Wayde Egan completed the try back on the inside to open the door.

It’s 20-6 and there’s plenty of time to go.

4.53pm — Premiers' NRL ‘torture’ is pure savagery

The Panthers don’t care about what most of the NRL wants — and that’s why they’re the two-time defending champions.

The Panthers have been absolutely ruthless in the first 40 minutes.

It hasn’t been perfect, it hasn’t been flawless, but it’s been brutal as the Panthers starved the Warriors of all ball.

The Panthers have taken a 20-0 lead at the break and don’t concede more than 13 points a game at home.

The Panthers are on fire. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

Penrith have had 63 per cent of possession and 22 of 24 completions for 91 per cent in the first half to the Warriors’ 12 of 17 (70 per cent).

The Panthers have run 926m, the Warriors 463m. The Panthers lead the line breaks 7-0, tackle breaks 30-15 and have had 133 runs to 66.

On top of that, the Warriors have made 211 tackles to 145, as well as missing 33 to 15 from the Panthers.

After a kick was knocked on by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad late in the first half, Channel 9’s Mat Thompson said: “This is like water torture.”

Speaking on Fox Sports, Andrew Voss said: “I would suggest, there’s probably other games where it might be 36-0.”

Michael Ennis added: “Without a doubt, they’ve been brave the Warriors.”

4.40pm — Turuva makes it three

This is quickly going against the Warriors.

Winger Sunia Turuva is the latest to score for the Panthers, winning the race to the corner after his teammates put him on the outside.

It’s 18-0 and looking rough for the Warriors.

Quick hands for Turuva! 🐾#NRLPanthersWarriorspic.twitter.com/sGskiGKSbh

— NRL (@NRL) September 9, 2023

4.32pm — Liam Martin puts Warriors to sword

The Warriors are up against it after Liam Martin ran through a hole for the Panthers’ second try.

The Panthers have been workman like, building their way up the field to put pressure on the Warriors.

But Martin — and Cleary’s conversion — have made it 12-0 after 20 minutes.

While 12-0 is not fatal by an means, it may well be against the Panthers, who average just 13 points against.

Although they conceded 32 against the Eels just two weeks ago, it’s probably hard to imagine the juggernaut that is the Panthers will let too much through in such an important game.

4.12pm — Panthers do what they do

There’s plenty feeling the Wahs might ride the goodwill from across Australia and New Zealand to a win but the Panthers don’t care about sentimentality.

While the Warriors are the feel good story of the year, the Panthers have barged over through Brian To’o to open the scoring at BlueBet Stadium in the fourth minute of the game.

Getting down low, To’o was able to slam the ball down on the line to give the Panthers the perfect start.

4pm — Shaun Johnson truth a Warriors nightmare

Shaun Johnson being ruled out of the qualifying final against the Panthers in Penrith makes the Warriors’ job even harder but the coach has delivered a shock admission.

Even with a full-strength side against the twice-defending champions and minor premiers, it’s about as hard an assignment as you can get.

But Andrew Webster admitted on Channel 9 before the match kicked off that even if it was an elimination final, Johnson would not have played.

It’s not what we wanted for the Wahs. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

At 33, Johnson isn’t getting any younger and a calf injury isn’t ideal.

Johnson told Fox Sports that at training “I felt a bit of a shock through it.

“Went and got a scan and got the results from that and it was always going to be a race against the clock. A couple of runs I had to see where I was at didn’t go as planned.

“Frustrating bro, really frustrating but the right decision has been made.”

Johnson wasn’t committal that if the Warriors have to play next week that he would be part of the team.

“I hope so, it is day by day, I’m not going to say I’ll be right to go. Day by day but we’re planning on taking the week off and that would be a massive help.”

But also not having Johnson gives the Warriors a chance to throw everything at the ball because regardless of the result, there is still a tomorrow.

“I think they just go all out, they get out there and have fun and try to play their natural game,” Cameron Smith said on Nine’s coverage.

“If they want to try to off-load a little bit with Fonua-Blake and play a little bit of football that is a bit foreign to the Panthers defence, I think go for it.

“They’ve got nothing to lose. If they are able to come up with what many people believe would be an upset, they then get a week off and a preliminary final in New Zealand. It’s huge. Huge.

“So it’s a free shot at stumps for mine.”

Originally published as ‘Insane’: Nathan Cleary madness exposes ‘scary’ truth as Panthers thump Wahs