LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Andrew Johns is urging Nathan Cleary to simplify the Penrith Panthers' attack as the team continues to struggle in the NRL.
Despite Cleary being heavily involved in the team's attack, they have only managed three tries in their recent losses.
While the Panthers are scoring an average of 24 points per game, they have only scored 18 points in their last two losses.
Johns believes Cleary needs to adjust his game and slow things down to allow his younger teammates to catch up to his level.
Cleary is being called on to lower his expectations and play at a level that is more accessible to his less experienced teammates.
Johns expressed his concerns, stating, "The challenge for Nathan is the younger players don't see the game like him...
He has to come back (to their level) for a while until these younger players get used to the speed of the game, handling pressure, playing under fatigue." Johns emphasized the need for Cleary to adapt and acknowledge that his current teammates may not understand the game in the same way that his previous superstar teammates did.
Ultimately, Cleary is being encouraged to make adjustments to support his teammates and help them improve their performance on the field.