Nathan Cleary the keystone of a Panthers dynasty

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Until last season, Penrith Panthers had gone an agonisingly long time without major honours.

The last Minor Premiership and Premiership titles were 1991 and 2003, during the heyday Ryan Girdler, who remains the highest points scorer for the club. That record could eventually be beaten by Nathan Cleary, under the coaching watch of his father Ivan Cleary, as the team forges what promises to become a lasting dynasty.

Winning the 2020 Minor Premiers was the culmination of a long journey, triumphing in all but two games and comfortably topping the ladder, including an amazing 15-game run of consecutive triumphs to clinch the title. Everything had clicked into place for this Panthers team, despite a mixed start to the campaign.

That run continued with tense victories in the 2020 NRL Finals Series. The Panthers edged aside the Sydney Roosters by just a single point, making it to their first Preliminary Final in six years. The winning streak then extended to 17 games as the Panthers beat South Sydney Rabbitohs 20-16, earning a long-awaited appearance in the 2020 NRL Grand Final.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, that's where everything hit a roadblock in the shape of Melbourne Storm, who had finished second in the league ladder. The Storm swept into a 26-0 lead after 50 minutes, although the Panthers refused to buckle, almost mounting a spectacular comeback with 20 unanswered points. In the end, it wasn't quite enough.

Despite the huge disappointment of concluding the 2020 season as runners-up, the Penrith Panthers have made a flying start to the 2021 campaign. Top of the ladder and unbeaten after the opening seven rounds, along with expectations of a second consecutive Minor Premiership title, the Panthers are priced as 3.50 rugby league betting favourites to win the Grand Final.

There appears to be no looking back for this team, despite the frustrating conclusion to the 2020 campaign. Any wounded pride appears to be a thing of the past, with the Panthers eager to get their claws into the challenge of going all the way this time. As their most influential player, Nathan Cleary is at the beating heart of a team that is hungry for success.

Still just 23, and maybe not even at the peak of his obvious potential, which many believe he will reach in the next couple of years, halfback Cleary already boasts an exceptional career record. Already well beyond 850 career points from over 100 games played, Cleary is well on the way to catching the Penrith record set by club legend Girdler.

Topping the scorers list at the Panthers with 25 goals and 60 points, Cleary is also widely recognised as one of the best players in the NRL this season. Top of the NRL charts for kick metres and all kicks, Cleary is also second in the line engaged charts and second for goals.

Heading into the current season, Fox Sports ranked Cleary as the fourth-best NRL player, although his current level of performance could easily change that opinion.

However, aside from individual accolades and personal performance, the most important objective is team success. For both father and son, that will be the main ambition in the Cleary family this year, and the Panthers appear to have all the right ingredients to match their lofty expectations