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As far as patented moves to pull a defensive line apart go, Nathan Cleary\u2019s dead bug impersonation is a new one.<\/p>\n
Flat on his backside on the wrong side of the play-the-ball, trying in vain to slip an errant boot back on, Cleary has slid his way between Warriors Mitch Barnett and Jackson Ford, but seemingly out of action despite flopping a late offload at the death.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarto, do you actually know what he\u2019s about to do?\u201d you ask edge back-rower Liam Martin, who has run outside Cleary at club, state and international level since the age of 17.<\/p>\n
\u201cHalf the time, not really,\u201d Martin laughs. \u201cHe\u2019s so skillful, and he\u2019s just mesmerising. You\u2019ve got to be concentrating the whole time with him because he might just go, \u2018bang\u2019, and hit you\u2026 I pinch myself sometimes and he\u2019s made me look good over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
In this instance, Cleary gives up on the boot and has the wherewithal to pop to his feet because the Warriors defensive line has been shortened up.<\/p>\n
Martin has the wherewithal to come flying outside-in at short notice, taking the popped pass and crossing untouched.<\/p>\n
It was just one play in a prize-winning Cleary carve-up of the Warriors, and a pointer to the Penrith star\u2019s latest evolution while Jarome Luai has been sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.<\/p>\n
Taking in the loss to Parramatta (when an ashen-faced Luai left the field after 26 minutes) and resounding bounce-backs against the Cowboys and Warriors, Champion Data tracks Cleary\u2019s running and involvement through the roof without his longtime halves partner.<\/p>\n
Luai, of course, still makes Penrith and Cleary a more dangerous, rounded attacking prospect.<\/p>\n
But with a fellow game-manager in Jack Cogger jumping in at five-eighth, Cleary has tweaked his own game, to the tune of an extra four runs and 43.6 metres per game compared to the rest of his 2023 turnout.<\/p>\n
Already, his 230 pushes to the line (averaging 11.5 per game) this year are the most of Cleary\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
For the men lining up outside him, it\u2019s a sight to behold. Ditto those opposite, but for all the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n
\u201d<\/b>When you hit a hole you want it to be as big as possible,\u201d Panthers back-rower Zac Hosking says. \u201cThe way [Cleary] engages the line, and how deep he goes into the line, it really opens up that space because a defender has to go in and tackle him in case he is actually dummying and running.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the whole goal when you\u2019re ball-playing: put people into space. And Nath helps create that space better than anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery player at every club is taught not to buy it, hold off, defend in your position. But Nath just drags people in. He\u2019s like a magician.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luai returns against the Storm with a Nelson Asofa-Solomona target painted on his chest, so it won\u2019t surprise to see Cleary putting the foot down again. Especially given Melbourne\u2019s edges have frayed at times this season.<\/p>\n
Against a Warriors left-edge that featured Dylan Walker – a middle impact man these days – reverting to third man in after Shaun Johnson\u2019s withdrawal, Cleary went looking for him repeatedly.<\/p>\n
By halftime, a Warriors defence that ranked behind only the Panthers and Broncos all year, and easily kept a lid on Kalyn Ponga last week, was on the rack. And Cleary\u2019s best was still to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe chips away at a defence,\u201d Scott Sorensen says. \u201cHe takes his time with when to make a big play. He can build a game for 40 or 50 minutes, wait and wait and wait, and then bang, pull the trigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew Johns often refers to the best ball-players waving the Steeden like a magic wand in front of defenders. Cameron Munster, Api Koroisau and Cleary are among his current-day favourites.<\/p>\n
Two hands, circular, bobbing motions and run, pass, kick options aplenty. With the Warriors tiring and Isaah Yeo able to go right to the line and keep two defenders interested, Cleary whips out the wand.<\/p>\n
Ford, Walker and centre Adam Pompey all have a look. But each are held in place by the prospect of first Martin, and then Hosking dropping back under \u2013 such is Cleary\u2019s sell with head, shoulders, knees and toes all pivoting as though the pass is being thrown.<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t, and Cleary\u2019s off \u2013 10 metres across field, 25 metres down and another try on the board.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no cue with him when he\u2019s running,\u201d Hosking says, having run the forensics himself throughout multiple opposed Penrith training sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only cue is in his mind. Especially when he\u2019s got guys running around him, options left or right and bodies in motion, he\u2019s just got it dialled in.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo unless you can read minds, he\u2019s so hard to pick in that situation.\u201c<\/p>\n
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