NRL 2025 round 13: Penrith Panthers 18 d. Parramatta Eels 10
His right boot may have deserted him during Origin, but the real Nathan Cleary returned to help the Panthers breathe life into their season with an important win over the Eels in a pulsating western Sydney derby.
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His right boot may have deserted him on Wednesday night, but the real Nathan Cleary returned to help the Panthers breathe life into their season with a crucial win over the Eels in a pulsating western Sydney derby.
After pairing up in the halves for the Blues on Wednesday night, Cleary got the better of Parramatta’s Mitch Moses as his trusty right boot returned with a clutch conversion to seal a gritty 18-10 victory.
“He’s made my life a bit easier over the years a few times,” coach Ivan Cleary said.
Another loss on Sunday would have left Penrith stranded at the foot of the table and with next to no chance of making the finals, but their superstar halfback came up with two clutch kicks after he sprayed shot after shot in the Origin opener.
Points were at a premium in a game that felt like a finals contest between two teams in the bottom four, which is why Cleary’s sideline conversion with 21 minutes to go was so important as he put the hosts in front by two.
That lead was never going to be enough so the world’s premier playmaker took it upon himself to ice the result, with Cleary deliberately launching a 40/20 off the outside of his right boot to put the Panthers back on the attack.
The game was sealed two minutes later when Cleary linked up with Dylan Edwards who threw a gorgeous pass to Brian To’o who completed the Blues trifecta in the corner, with the halfback nailing the tricky shot from touch.
“He was on fire,” Moses said.
“That’s why he’s the best half in the game. He killed us.”
BLUE AND GOLD STANDARD
The Eels will finish the round in 16th spot, but they’ll head home feeling like this was one that got away.
It took a faultless final 20 minutes from Cleary to sink them, while Moses was kept relatively quiet as halves partner Dylan Brown picked up the slack.
They looked slick in the first half as their ball movement caused all sorts of problems for the Penrith defence, but they only had one try to show for it with a Jack Williams effort ruled out even though it looked like the ball touched the line.
“It’s right there,” Jason Ryles said.
“We didn’t play just any ordinary team. We had a fully loaded four-time premiers today, and they were desperate. They had to complete at 90 (per cent) and play well to stay with us and beat us in the end.”
FLYING FOXX
Josh Addo-Carr might not be in the State of Origin mix these days, but he reminded footy fans that he’s still one of the best finishers in the world with a spectacular try to put the Eels in front early in the second half.
Just days after the Eels activated his option for 2026, Addo-Carr inched closer to the magical 150 mark with a stunning one-handed put down in the left corner when his body was suspended mid-air well outside the field of play.
The flashy finish was made even better when Zac Lomax nailed the sideline conversion despite slipping over.
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Originally published as NRL 2025 round 13: Penrith Panthers 18 d. Parramatta Eels 10
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