Just read this today. Nathan watched the grand final and origin 3 straight after getting out of the bubble, brutal.
https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-le...eary-opens-up-on-brutal-end-to-2020-c-1961991
Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary has opened up on his heartbreaking end to 2020.
The Panthers rode a 17-game winning streak into the NRL grand final but lost the decider against Melbourne, and weeks later Cleary lost the unlosable State of Origin series against Queensland.
Cleary told 7NEWS those losses triggered a few weeks of “rugby league depression” but the 23-year-old believes the brutal month made him a better footballer.
“It was a pretty big year playing in some pretty games and lost some pretty big games which is super disappointing,” Cleary said.
“I endured watching both of those games as soon as I got out of the bubble, so there was a bit of rugby league depression for a week or two after that which was hard to go through.
“But I think it was an important thing to educate yourself on - what you thought went wrong and where you can get better heading for the future and I’m definitely ready to head into 2021.
“They both stung, don’t worry, they were both hard to take. But you can’t dwell on it too much, you’ve just got to pinpoint where you went wrong and improve.”
Cleary is in the mix to become the club’s new captain after James Tamou signed with the Wests Tigers.
Few players have experienced as much as early in their career as Cleary, which the young playmaker believes has equipped him to lead the club.
“Leadership is a lot harder than what it first seems and I learnt that the hard way the last one or two years,” he said.
“But I’ve really enjoyed taking on that role and taking another step in the right direction in terms of leadership this year too.
“I’m looking forward to what comes and the challenge it possesses.”
Penrith centre Brent Naden is back training after his one-month suspension for
taking cocaine the night before the grand final, and that wasn’t the club’s only off-season controversy.
They were in the headlines again following a
bizarre sex tape scandal involving Kurt Capewell, but veteran forward Isaah Yeo says the duo are still integral members of the squad.
“You’re like a little family here, particularly after last year, I think we saw each other more than our families so that creates a real bond there and that hasn’t changed,” Yeo said.
“We just rally around each other and we’re good mates who see each other every day we just obviously make sure we’re alright.”
Salary cap pressure forced Josh Mansour to sign with South Sydney this week which paves the way for 20-year-old flyer Charlie Staines to start in round one.
“That just shows there’s a business side to rugby league,” Yeo said.
“I know Penrith meant a lot to him and he’ll be sorely missed.
“Not just ability wise but as a locker room person. He’s a real contagious personality, real infection personality and the Rabbitohs have really picked up a good one there.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Charlie Staines and a few other boys in the outside backs there, there’s obviously an opportunity to really lock that down.”
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