Nathan Cleary

[betcats]

What he did say is very concerning. We’ve signed up a guy to a massive long term contract who can’t create tries or line breaks. That’s literally the no.1 job of a half, particularly a highly paid half.


As I’ve said before, he’s never going to be an attacking half, you either have it or you don’t.

What he said is completely truthful and what we have all been saying about him, he doesn't rack up a lot of assits, we've literally been discussing that for weeks. But if he says it its a big problem? LOL yeah righto mate.

 

[OldPanther]

If you put 21 year old Cronk in our current team you'd get similar results. His time with Matty Johns, playing for the Storm and his work ethic made him look different but they are the same style of player. Matty Johns has the best record as a halves coach and we need to get onto him.

 

[GongPanther]

Unfortunately I am too young so I missed most of Brandy's career including his early years but it does sound like he was a brilliant attacking half from a young age and the sort of player who was born to play halfback.

He was a wonder to watch. The Bulldogs tried in vein to snare him, but they had to do with Mortimer.

In Brandy's playing days, there were a good number of fantastic halves across the board which IMO, brought out the best in each other. I call the 80's and early 90's the golden age of the halves both for half backs and 5/8's.

 

[betcats]

If you put 21 year old Cronk in our current team you'd get similar results. His time with Matty Johns, playing for the Storm and his work ethic made him look different but they are the same style of player. Matty Johns has the best record as a halves coach and we need to get onto him.

Statistically hes far ahead of Nathan right now. But IMO Cronk lacks vision and footballing instincts just like Cleary. He was always very robotic as a player, still is IMO. He has just studied the game harder than anyone and improved his decision making and kicking game to the point where he is elite as a half. They are not dissimilar players at all IMO. Cleary just didn't come into a team with Bellamy coaching and Smith feeding him the ball and Billy out the back giving defences fits. That doesn't mean Nathan cant improve his game in similar ways to cronk.

And yes he has been around for a few years now, but that has been spent being coached by two very limited attacking coaches in Griffin and now Cleary(though cleary does usually get good form from his halves).

 

[Panther_Daz]

If you put 21 year old Cronk in our current team you'd get similar results. His time with Matty Johns, playing for the Storm and his work ethic made him look different but they are the same style of player. Matty Johns has the best record as a halves coach and we need to get onto him.

Absolutely no chance of Matty travelling out to Penrith. He is winding down big time now. Waking up at 11am each day.

 

[Panther_Daz]

Personally im willing to give the 21 year old state of origin series winning 7 who's never missed the finals and is the best defender in his position a bit more time but hey thats just me.
Also tries harder than anyone else in the sport and is a gun goal kicker.
Temperament is also an extremely underrated quality and his is great

Can that temperament and effort be used in another position?

 

[herbert henry1908]

What he said is completely truthful and what we have all been saying about him, he doesn't rack up a lot of assits, we've literally been discussing that for weeks. But if he says it its a big problem? LOL yeah righto mate.

I said it’s concerning, because it almost reads like he doesn’t ever expect to be that type of half. Despite my doubts he’d ever be an attacking half, I still held out a little hope. His statement pretty much knocks it on the head.

So, yes. I think we should all be concerned our highest paid player, who is a half, likely will never set up many tries.




I mean, a whole bunch of people have been in here saying he’ll eventually become an attacking half, yet the guy himself just admitted that’s probably not in his game.

 

[OldPanther]

Absolutely no chance of Matty travelling out to Penrith. He is winding down big time now. Waking up at 11am each day.

Well that sucks.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Clearys doing his job a lot better than Katoa ever was. There is no comparison, there is absolutely no reason Cleary should be criticised as much as Katoa was. And Nathan IS being heavily criticised, by Penrith fans, nsw fans and the media. He is getting flogged from pillar to post. The idea he is being protected is silly, who is actually protecting him?

The NSW selectors, his father, many Penrith fans, channel 9 and its commentators.

Unfortunately the hype some people built up around him has been part of the problem.

 

[Panther_Daz]

I said it’s concerning, because it almost reads like he doesn’t ever expect to be that type of half. Despite my doubts he’d ever be an attacking half, I still held out a little hope. His statement pretty much knocks it on the head.

That is the way I saw it too.

 

[Dave's mate]

Absolutely no chance of Matty travelling out to Penrith. He is winding down big time now. Waking up at 11am each day.

No reason Nathan cant go to him

 

[Dave's mate]

Can that temperament and effort be used in another position?

Sure and hooker might be the answer but I wouldn't pull the pin on 7 yet

 

[Panther_Daz]

No reason Nathan cant go to him

Ivan is good mates with Matty so it is possible. Doesn't say much for the coaching ability of Brandy and Wallace as former halves though!

 

[OldPanther]

No reason Nathan cant go to him

That's what Cronk did.

 

[OldPanther]

Ivan is good mates with Matty so it is possible. Doesn't say much for the coaching ability of Brandy and Wallace as former halves though!

I think it comes from the fact that these guys had the Natural talent which is hard to teach. Matty approaches it as a guy(like Nathan, Cronk etc.) Who wasn't born an elite half.

 

[Panther_Daz]

I think it comes from the fact that these guys had the Natural talent which is hard to teach. Matty approaches it as a guy(like Nathan, Cronk etc.) Who wasn't born an elite half.

Not sure if Wallace was that naturally gifted to be honest. Like Cleary he competed on every play. In my opinion, Wallace was a better 9 than 7.

 

[Dave's mate]

Not sure if Wallace was that naturally gifted to be honest. Like Cleary he competed on every play. In my opinion, Wallace was a better 9 than 7.

And so was Gower

 

[Kilkenny]

And so was Gower

Gower was a great half back. Our last great half back and only just behind Greg Alexander as our all time best.

 

[OldPanther]

Not sure if Wallace was that naturally gifted to be honest. Like Cleary he competed on every play. In my opinion, Wallace was a better 9 than 7.

And so was Gower

Yeah Wallace was a really good 9. Both of those guys had a lot more natural talent than Cleary in my opinion.

 

[Bob]

Not sure if Wallace was that naturally gifted to be honest. Like Cleary he competed on every play. In my opinion, Wallace was a better 9 than 7.

Don’t think we ever saw the best of Wal, 2 or 3 reco’s before he hit 1st grade tends to do that to you,