Will Nathan Cleary surpass Andrew Johns as the greatest ever halfback to play the game?

[Vee]

So he's surpassed Cronk, Stuart, Langer and JT already has he? wow...

And Sterlo.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Has any halfback been compared to Joey and not been a complete bust?
Jarrod Mullen
Luke Brooks
Joe Williams (hey the bloke could kick a 40/20)
Am I forgetting anyone?

 

[Fangs]

He's the most improved player of the last 2 years. However the comparison is very premature.

He hasn't won a premiership yet and he hasn't represented his country yet.

 

[Vee]

Good memory.

How you reckon Cleary would go at Cricket?

Have Johns covered….?

Got him covered in Aerobics.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

Got him covered in Aerobics.

And Johns would cover Cleary at video games..

 

[Someone2]

And Sterlo.

We will never see another halfback win 4premierships at the one club like he did

 

[mxlegend99]

He will be the Joey of this generation but that's not saying much when the position has no competition these days.

Cleary came in at the end of a few greats careers. But otherwise the halves stocks are pretty ordinary. Sam Walker looks great. But so did Ash Taylor a few years ago. Hopefully Sam Walker kicks on.

 

[Munky]

It's hard to know with Cleary. I don't think he has played in a truly terrible team to see the impact he has on lower standard players.

That said Penrith were completely rudderless without him. The term 'game manager' is used to put down quarterbacks in the NFL, yet Tom Brady has seven superbowls.

Cleary is our game manager and I'll pretty stoked if he can deliver half the championships that Brady has. He can turn a shit set of six into a great one with a kick and if we have go forward can turn the screws to completely dominate a side for fifteen to twenty minutes. Maybe there was some ref assistance but the period before half time against the Roosters and the second half against Souths his control of the attack just put them out out of the game through relentless possession.

I think watching Reynolds go around at Brisbane next year and if anything happens to Souths will be a good gauge of the importance a game managing half has on their team. I think Cleary is a level above Reynolds but Reynolds is very very good.

Also my memory could be hazy, but I remember Joey only truly dominating Origin in 2003 and 2005. 2000 he was great off the bench.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

He will be the Joey of this generation but that's not saying much when the position has no competition these days.

Cleary came in at the end of a few greats careers. But otherwise the halves stocks are pretty ordinary. Sam Walker looks great. But so did Ash Taylor a few years ago. Hopefully Sam Walker kicks on.

Agreed. With Cronks retirement IMO we’d entered the only period since the 80’s where we didn’t have a truly great half playing in the competition. Benji Marshall is still going, maybe he is the exception although he’s a very different Benji from the 2000’s..

Cleary looked the most likely to fill that void, and unlike many others that have been prematurely touted as “a potential superstar”.. like Brooks, Taylor etc etc… he’s been consistently improving and adding value to his club.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

Also my memory could be hazy, but I remember Joey only truly dominating Origin in 2003 and 2005. 2000 he was great off the bench.

Same here. His debut was in 95 in the NSW side that lost 3-0 to Fattys Maroons. In 96 he played Hooker, Toovey at 7, mainly remembered for getting knocked on his back by Jamie Goddard. He went already the next year at 7 and scored most points for NSW.

But I only really remember him truly dominating one or two series in SOO in the latter part of his Blues career.

He dominated at club level with the Knights overwhelmingly. Whenever the dragons would be scheduled to play the knights it was “oh no, Johns….”. But that same dominance was rarer at the higher levels.

Johns was a brilliant halfback but perhaps amongst his brilliance was that he could get the absolute best out of a team of variable abilities. Making a good team Great. That’s rare.

I remember / suggest that Wally dominated the most as a half in SOO, and the only guy who could compete with him was Brett Kenny. Langer and Lockyer are the other two who stand out to me here. Sadly no blues..

 

[some11]

He will be the Joey of this generation but that's not saying much when the position has no competition these days.

Cleary came in at the end of a few greats careers. But otherwise the halves stocks are pretty ordinary. Sam Walker looks great. But so did Ash Taylor a few years ago. Hopefully Sam Walker kicks on.

Cherry-Evans and Jahrome Hughes have both won premierships.

Hughes is arguably more important to his team than Cleary, he was f**king great last year and doesn't get the accolades he deserves.

 

[perverse]

The Joey comparison is dumb but that Tim Smith one is on par with it

The Tim Smith mention wasn't to compare him to Cleary, it was an example of why it's folly to compare a kid who's still building his career to the greatest halfback to play the game. Anything can happen between now and the end of Clearys career - he has everything to achieve and prove in front of him yet. No need to mald out about it.

 

[blaza88z]

Has already happened. Rugby League callers being what they are.

You once compared Moylan to Lockyer

 

[ACTPanthers]

I voted Yes... but after some consideration, I think it may have been a very biased vote.

Remembering how good Johns was, and how he'd pick teams apart, really makes me realise Cleary is no where near that level... yet.

I retract my original vote, but reserve the right to change it again in a year or two if Cleary reaches the same heights.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

You once compared Moylan to Lockyer

On their diminishing hairlines perhaps?

 

[Munky]

You once compared Moylan to Lockyer

I always thought the closest comparison to Moylan at the Panthers was Lockyer.

No where near as good but his style was similar.

 

[The_Frog]

You once compared Moylan to Lockyer

Someone did, but it wasn't me. Moyza had/has considerable talent. He might have gone close if not for preferring partying to training and rehab.

 

[Corner_Post]

Has any halfback been compared to Joey and not been a complete bust?
Jarrod Mullen
Luke Brooks
Joe Williams (hey the bloke could kick a 40/20)
Am I forgetting anyone?

Brett Firman

 

[Vee]

Not a popular opinion but was JT better than the greats of yesteryear? Sterling anyone?

 

[Vee]

Not a popular opinion but was JT better than the greats of yesteryear? Sterling anyone?

Langer?