Nathan Cleary - any good?

[GongPanther]

Cleary’s biggest asset is his cool head. Kid just does not get flustered or overwhelmed.

He did basically nothing during origin, but he also didn’t have to. The team was better than what Queensland were putting out and he basically knew he could just do his job without getting too involved and let the stars shine. Any halfback that tried to take charge while Cook and Tedesco were singing like that would be an idiot.

For the panthers he takes on much more of a leadership role, and I fully expect him to be a great halfback with 300+ games under his belt on retirement.

Any club would be lucky to have him

He is a player in development. That SOO series will do him and NSW a lot of good. The OP is clutching at straws to bag a very good player and refer to him as over rated.

 

[Hutty1986]

Would have been completely contrary to Fittler's strategy for the series.

Aka, the strategy to actually win the series

 

[Big Pete]

An argument could be made that Cleary wasn't in top five halves this year, but if you take the past three seasons into account, there's been very few better.

In fairness to Nathan, he had all the excuses in the world to pack it in. That knee injury was set to rub him out of the first Origin game, but he forced his way into the side and while he didn't star for NSW he didn't look out of place either.

Then when he gets back to Panthers, the side is a shambles with Gould looking for any excuse to fire Griffin and players falling down left, right and centre. Even with some of the players they had like Campbell-Gillard and Maloney, it was obvious they weren't 100% and really should have pulled the pin, but they kept pushing anyway.

I see Nathan as the new mould of halfback. Gone are the days of the Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurstons and the instinct players who play eyes up footy. The modern game is too structured for it, some it comes down to who has the most god given talent. Right now very few can compete with Cleary's kicking and passing game. His running game was also showing some great signs towards the end of the season and he was beginning to make the type of plays you'd expect from your champions. When the chips were down for Penrith, Cleary was still head and shoulders their best player (eg. vs. Warrior @ Auckland).

As far as Pearce goes, he's a quality halfback and a cautionary tale wrapped up into one. He should have never been guaranteed an Origin jersey like he was and in retrospect, he wasn't ready for Origin until 2013 if ever.

 

[T-Boon]

I see Nathan as the new mould of halfback. Gone are the days of the Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurstons and the instinct players who play eyes up footy. The modern game is too structured for it, some it comes down to who has the most god given talent.

That is a terrible thought but it is true and it should prompt radical rule changes.

 

[Chook Norris]

An argument could be made that Cleary wasn't in top five halves this year, but if you take the past three seasons into account, there's been very few better.

In fairness to Nathan, he had all the excuses in the world to pack it in. That knee injury was set to rub him out of the first Origin game, but he forced his way into the side and while he didn't star for NSW he didn't look out of place either.

Then when he gets back to Panthers, the side is a shambles with Gould looking for any excuse to fire Griffin and players falling down left, right and centre. Even with some of the players they had like Campbell-Gillard and Maloney, it was obvious they weren't 100% and really should have pulled the pin, but they kept pushing anyway.

I see Nathan as the new mould of halfback. Gone are the days of the Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurstons and the instinct players who play eyes up footy. The modern game is too structured for it, some it comes down to who has the most god given talent. Right now very few can compete with Cleary's kicking and passing game. His running game was also showing some great signs towards the end of the season and he was beginning to make the type of plays you'd expect from your champions. When the chips were down for Penrith, Cleary was still head and shoulders their best player (eg. vs. Warrior @ Auckland).

As far as Pearce goes, he's a quality halfback and a cautionary tale wrapped up into one. He should have never been guaranteed an Origin jersey like he was and in retrospect, he wasn't ready for Origin until 2013 if ever.

Nice post Pete. A balanced description of both sides

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

They play two totally different positions, how many other halves are as good as Cleary and around the same age? Where was Thurston, Cronk etc at 19/20?

As I said, he is a fine player and seems to have a good head on his shoulders and should play 10 years of rep football. Ponga is a once in a decade (or more talent). He will be talked of alongside the greats of the game when his time is done (barring injury of course). I can't say we will be doing that for Cleary.

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

As I said, he is a fine player and seems to have a good head on his shoulders and should play 10 years of rep football. Ponga is a once in a decade (or more talent). He will be talked of alongside the greats of the game when his time is done (barring injury of course). I can't say we will be doing that for Cleary.

I don't think so, there's guys like Tedesco, Mitchell, Trbojevic around who look to be in the same class as Ponga.

 

[T-Boon]

I don't think so, there's guys like Tedesco, Mitchell, Trbojevic around who look to be in the same class as Ponga.

Ponga is in year 12 those other guys are in year 7. Its not the same class.

 

[AJB1102]

We at the Panthers would love to see Jimmy retire from Origin and give his all for the club.

Club loyalty and turning down a dollar (or just accepting the amount he agreed to) are not part of Jimmy's make up. Don't hold your breath.

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

Ponga is in year 12 those other guys are in year 7. Its not the same class.

No

 

[Life's Good]

I think Cleary is a good player, who this year was flattered, at times, by having Maloney next to him(Jimmy did the same for Townsend).
It remains to be seen if he can become ‘that star’ the media were proclaiming Pearce would be(no offence to Pearce who is a damn fine club player). For now, he unfortunately will carry the expectation of media & fans waiting for the first signs of drama brought on by being coached by his dad.

 

[Willie Ray]

Nathan Cleary-any good?
oh he's good but he needs to be gooder.

 

[Exsilium]

He’s no Chad Townsend.

If he leads my team to a premiership, I’d be shocked.

 

[Wizardman]

As someone said earlier, his best asset is that he doesn't f**k up. I see him as a Cronk-like player...very solid but not a guy that will pull a game out of the fire very often.

 

[Wizardman]

As someone said earlier, his best asset is that he doesn't f**k up. I see him as a Cronk-like player...very solid but not a guy that will pull a game out of the fire very often.

In saying that, he has not reached Cronk heights yet either.

 

[umina panther]

As someone said earlier, his best asset is that he doesn't f**k up. I see him as a Cronk-like player...very solid but not a guy that will pull a game out of the fire very often.

Also a rock soild defender and gun goalkicker. You can definitely build a side around him for the next 10 years

 

[Abacus]

In saying that, he has not reached Cronk heights yet either.

Well, you've convinced me. If Cleary hasn't been able to achieve by 21 in two and a half seasons what Cronk has achieved by 34 and 350 games, he's definitely not going to be any good.

 

[franklin2323]

I gladly take him as at a Pearce level. Give me Premierships and MP over him winning Origins. Let someone else's team provide the NSW players that said. Still the youngest half in the comp so too soon to judge

 

[T-Boon]

It seems like his best attribute is that he can get his team to the kick. It is boring stuff but this is the future of halves play.

 

[Rhino_NQ]

Nathan Cleary-any good?
oh he's good but he needs to be gooder.

But he’s not the goodest