LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Nathan Cleary, the fearless leader of the Penrith Panthers, has sent a clear message to all NRL contenders after making a triumphant comeback from a hamstring injury.
In a nail-biting showdown against the Dolphins, the halfback sealed the deal with a stunning 45-metre field goal, securing a thrilling 28-26 golden-point victory on Sunday.
Currently sitting in second place on the ladder, trailing Melbourne by a mere four points with seven games left in the season, Cleary is determined to lead his team to their fourth consecutive premiership.
Despite the Panthers trailing by 14 points against the Dolphins, Cleary rallied his team to victory and now has his sights set on reaching his peak performance to drive the team towards success.
Reminiscent of his approach during the State of Origin series, where key players were carefully managed to conserve energy for the final stretch of the season, Cleary remains steadfast in his strategy.
While this tactic may have backfired in the past, as evident by the Panthers' loss to North Queensland following Game Two, Cleary remains optimistic that this calculated approach will ultimately pay dividends in the grand scheme of things.