NRL Analysis: Nathan Cleary's Deception

Ivan Cleary mentioned that Nathan “negotiated pretty hard to play this game” following his State of Origin defeat in Game 3.

Backing up after Origin hasn’t always worked well from an injury perspective, and doing so following a disappointing individual performance can add another layer of pressure. However, Cleary’s inclusion off the bench in Round 19 proved a masterstroke and has the Penrith Panthers humming as finals football approaches.

Cleary scored an incredible individual try to seal the win. The sort that would have New South Wales Blues fans asking where this was on Wednesday night. But it came within a Panthers system and cohesion that has been years in the making.

Within that system and with the cohesion around him, we see Cleary at his deceptive best.

The Panthers use a lot of drop plays to put work into the middle defence. They’re patient and happy to wait for the right moment to strike.

Early in the game, the Panthers stack the left side after dropping their right centre back to the middle. Engaging the fullback is an added bonus to disrupt the line organisation that would hopefully result in an extra number when the defence sees Cleary float back to the long side.

The Panthers generate the look - Cleary on the three-man with four outside him - but Isaah Yeo doesn’t pull the trigger this time.

By using regular drop plays, similar to those of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the Panthers can create opportunities on the edges. Defending teams will always be on the lookout for those players dropping under, adding a split second to their slide across the field.

This shift comes from a wide field position in which the Eels are able to cover with ease, but the seed is always there for the drop play or short pass to the lead runner.

Add the tempo and deception from the best ball-player in the NRL to the constant thought of players coming back at you inside, and you get a moment of brilliance.

Cleary’s role is crucial and nobody plays it better, but the detail in the try is one for the nerds.

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