NRL 2026 Four Point Focus: How Cleary Recreated That Grand Final Try

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The Four Point Focus breaks down a try from every round of the 2025 NRL season, highlighting the context, shape, trigger and the lessons learned. It’s viewed with an eye on 2026 as we look for trends, breakout players and hints of what might be to come next season.

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Point 1 - The Context

“We’ve seen that before.” - Billy Slater

“That’s Grand Final-like.” - Andrew Johns

With Reece Walsh out of Round 9 for the Brisbane Broncos and Selwyn Cobbo forced to fill in at fullback, Nathan Cleary took advantage to recreate one of the all-time great NRL Grand Final tries shortly before halftime of the Penrith Panthers’ 32-8 win.

Point 2 - The Shape

Selwyn Cobbo has spent time at fullback and is capable of doing a fine job in attack at the position. However, Nathan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers found a weakness in defence. Where Reece Walsh has elite acceleration and speed, Cobbo is a little bit slower off the mark.

When he’s filling in at A in good ball and inside ten, he can’t hold his place in the line quite as long as Walsh might. In response, Cleary regularly tested the space around the ruck, which Cobbo was tasked with filling until the ball moved wider.

While the Broncos managed to close him down on this occasion, the second-phase play on the following tackle disjointed the defensive line, left Cobbo in a similar position, and provided Cleary with another opportunity.