LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Nathan Cleary expressed his pride in Penrith's Round 1 win over Cronulla, emphasizing the team's resilience after off-season departures.
Despite losing key players, Cleary highlighted the talent still present in the team, predicting that five or six current players have the potential to become hall of famers.
Cleary's confidence in his teammates was evident as Penrith secured a 28-22 victory, with Cleary and Isaah Yeo leading the charge.
Yeo's trysaving tackle on Cam McInnes and subsequent try, along with Cleary's assist, were crucial in securing the win.
Cleary praised the team's performance, stating, "When you lose players, you can talk about that or you can talk about the guys we still have." He believed that the team's strong core of talented players bodes well for their future success, noting, "If you've got that many players of that calibre, you're obviously in a pretty good space." Despite the challenges of player departures, Cleary remained optimistic about the team's potential for growth, stating, "I still think their combination and understanding of the system and cohesion together should improve so that's a positive." Penrith's ability to come together and secure a win in the face of adversity speaks to the depth and talent of the team, setting a strong foundation for their premiership defense.