Why Friday night shapes as the biggest challenge of Cleary’s club career

Nathan Cleary conquered the State of Origin arena just seven weeks ago. Now the Penrith halfback faces arguably the greatest challenge of his club career.

Cleary will run out in Friday night’s must-win match against Canterbury without the club’s first-choice lock, hooker or five-eighth.

The last time Cleary played without three key members of the Penrith spine was 2019, before the club embarked on its premiership era. Matt Burton, who will line up for the Bulldogs on Friday, debuted for Penrith in that game in the halves for the suspended James Maloney.

When halves partner Jarome Luai succumbed to a shoulder injury during the 2023 grand final, Cleary still had co-captain Isaah Yeo, hooker Mitch Kenny and fullback Dylan Edwards to lean on.

The Panthers are expected to welcome Kenny back from a leg and ankle injury next weekend, while there remains a slim chance Yeo could also play after suffering a pectoral injury three weeks ago.

In the meantime, Cleary will need to make it work at CommBank Stadium with back-up lock and hooker Lindsay Smith and Freddy Lussick, as well as Jack Cole, who plays just his third NRL game this season in place of suspended No.6 Jack Cogger.

Two of the finest playmakers to wear the Penrith jersey not only backed Cleary to deliver – again – but only if the pack did their part and dominated the Dogs.

“Without Mitch and Isaah and now a No.6, this is a massive challenge,” Greg Alexander said. “Nathan still has Dylan Edwards at the back, but there’s a lot of pressure on him to create something.

“And while Isaah has always been that link man, Lindsay Smith is still providing Nathan with a little something, and helping him get wider.

“Cam Murray does the same thing for Cody Walker at Souths, and Victor Radley allows ‘DCE’ [Daly Cherry-Evans] and Sam Walker to get wider.

“Nat will have to touch the ball as many times as possible. Jack Cole is only playing his third game, but he can play, and if the Dogs only focus on Nat, Jack will hurt them.

“Canterbury played their best game against Penrith earlier this year. The forced errors from the get-go with their defensive pressure. But Penrith were coming off a hell of an opening five weeks where they won games against tough teams. Nat would have taken a lot of lessons away from that night. He’s always looking at ways to improve.

“Yes, with the injuries and suspension, we’re starting to get down the list, but it’s still a good list.”

Maloney said of Cleary: “There’s a lot more pressure on Nathan, but the footy is still the same. He’ll just have to wait for his opportunities when he’s on the front foot, then he can go at the defence and dictate them. But he needs his teammates to get him on to that front foot. He can’t do that himself.