After playing a critical role in NSW's demolition of QLD, Nathan Cleary has lifted the Penrith Panthers off the bottom of the NRL ladder with several critical plays in Penrith's eight point victory over Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.
It was a match that both sides simply had to win and it had all the hallmarks of an instant classic, despite the lowly ladder positions of the two rivals.
Off the back of a run of ill-discipline. The Panthers were placed under immense pressure and it was an interchange of passing through the middle third that caught the premiers out. A beautiful short ball from Dylan Brown sent Sean Russell over for the first try of the evening inside the opening five minutes.
Penrith hit back after 17 minutes off the back of some consistent field position and punished Parramatta for their cheap errors. It was terrific deception from Nathan Cleary who linked up with Blaize Talagi who found Casey McLean who managed to beat the cover and score for the Panthers.
The rest of the first-half saw both sides present several scoring chances. The Eels went closest through Jack Williams after 27 minutes, when the Bunker denied a try thanks to an excellent cover tackle from Mitch Kenny. Penrith were poking through, but the final moment was just not executing for the hosts but still led by two at the sheds.
Parramatta started the second half, just the way they finished the first. The 'visitors' went down the left edge again and it was quick hands from Russell to Josh Addo-Carr who somehow got the ball down as he launched and somehow grounded it in the left corner. Despite stacking it as he went to kick the ball, Zac Lomax nailed the conversion from the touch-line.
Penrith were building into the arm-wrestle and after a late tackle ruck infringement from the Eels, the Panthers decided to strike. A move to the left edge saw Cleary and Talagi combine with McLean, who after scoring the first, set up the second with a deft kick for Tom Jenkins to score for the hosts. Cleary nails this from touch and the Panthers re-established a narrow lead.
The Eels were defending for their lives out there after Cleary nailed a 40/20 to give the Panthers much needed field position. The game was sealed beyond doubt after a beautiful bit of shape from Cleary. NSW's number one somehow picked it up from his boot laces and it was Brian To'o who goes over for the Panthers.