Alexander: 1st grade debut at 19..Australian rep at 21
Gower: 1st grade debut at 18.. Australian rep at 21
Fittler: 1st grade debut at 17..Australian rep at 19
Cleary:1st grade debut at 19.. S.O.O rep at 20
The first 3 were instrumental in Penriths only 2 premiership wins. They played the game as they saw it, they didn't sit back and wait for someone else to be the main playmakers. (MXlegend). Whoever Penrith plays in the 6 in 2020, I can only accept that it will be their fault if its not a successful year. Never Nathans, he will be building into his contract and needs the time.
Craig Gower didnt play a full season at halfback until his 7th season of first grade. Starting out as a benchie. Playing a lot of hooker in between games in the halves. He did what the coach wanted as any young player should.
Likewise Brad Fittler jumped between positions the first few years of his career. Playing wherever the coached deemed best for the team.
Both incredible players. But neither came in as the main playmakers. Their careers ended up going that way. But not from day 1 as you seem to be trying to imply.
Brandy was a different story. Flat out superstar half from the start basically.
You're mistaking Cleary following the coaches instructions for shirking responsibility. He would not have been very popular at all if the coach and players were looking to Moylan and Maloney as the leaders and Nathan decided he wanted to make it his team. That's the sort of shit that set Mitchell Moses back for years in his career. Look how long it has taken him to deliver on his potential... being an impatient glory hog held back his career and his teams for years.
You compare Nathan to 90% of halves at the same points in their careers and he is well and truly ahead of many players who went on to be greats. Guys who were only benchies, utilities etc. And slowly got handed the team.
2020 is going to be make or break for him. Not sure why people want to write him off now. By about round 5 or 6 we should have a rough idea how his season will go. 12 month from now we should know for certain what he is or isn't capable of. If he fails then we know weve wasted $10m on the Clearys. If he succeeds its only $5m wasted on the one Cleary