SUBLIME NATHAN CLEARY LIFTS PENRITH PANTHERS OFF BOTTOM WITH BRISBANE BRONCOS THUMPING
In a scintillating display of skill, leadership and sheer brilliance, Nathan Cleary reminded the NRL world exactly why he’s one of the game’s premier players. The Penrith Panthers co-captain delivered a masterclass to inspire his side to a 42-12 demolition of the Brisbane Broncos, lifting the reigning premiers off the bottom of the ladder and reigniting belief in a fourth-straight title campaign.
Returning from injury and heavy scrutiny after a slow and injury-plagued start to the 2025 season, Cleary produced one of his finest performances in recent memory at Suncorp Stadium. With Penrith sitting uncharacteristically in 17th heading into the match, all eyes were on how the struggling champions would respond against a Brisbane side tipped to be premiership contenders themselves. What followed was a statement — loud and clear.
From the opening whistle, Cleary dictated the tempo, calmly guiding his team around the park while unlocking the Broncos’ defence with surgical precision. The 26-year-old halfback scored one try, set up three more, forced two line dropouts, kicked eight goals from eight attempts, and finished with over 500 kicking metres. His fingerprints were on nearly every attacking raid, with a level of control and flair that left fans and pundits in awe.
In the 12th minute, Cleary opened the scoring with a clever show-and-go to slice through the Broncos line untouched. Minutes later, he laid on a pinpoint grubber for Izack Tago to pounce on, before orchestrating a sweeping right-edge move that ended with Brian To’o touching down in the corner. By halftime, the Panthers led 24-6, and the Suncorp crowd had already been stunned into silence.
But Cleary and the Panthers weren’t done yet.
The second half saw more of the same. Cleary’s relentless kicking game pinned the Broncos deep in their territory, and his defensive effort — including a try-saving tackle on Selwyn Cobbo — showcased his complete all-around game. When Sunia Turuva crossed in the 65th minute, it was again Cleary who created the overlap with a brilliant cut-out ball. He was everywhere, and Brisbane had no answers.
Speaking after the match, Cleary was humble but acknowledged the importance of the win.
“It’s been a tough few weeks, but we never stopped believing,” he said. “We’ve copped a fair bit of criticism and rightly so, but tonight was about getting back to who we are — playing as a team, defending with pride, and taking our chances.”
Coach Ivan Cleary, who watched his son dominate from the box, was full of praise.
“That’s the Nathan we all know. He’s a competitor, a leader, and he drives standards in this club,” the elder Cleary said. “There’s been a lot of talk about where we’re at, but we’re not going anywhere. This club is built on resilience and tonight we showed that.”
The win was Penrith’s most complete performance of the season. James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota laid the platform up front, while Dylan Edwards continued his stellar form with 230 running metres and several key defensive efforts. But the night belonged to Cleary, whose composure, vision and execution were at a level few players in the game can match.
For Brisbane, it was a sobering night. The Broncos were outmuscled, out-enthused and outplayed in all departments. Coach Kevin Walters admitted post-game that his side had been “bullied” and said they would need to respond quickly.
“We got taught a lesson tonight,” Walters said. “That was a finals-hardened team playing desperate footy, and we weren’t ready for it. Credit to Penrith — they looked like a side with a point to prove.”
The victory moves Penrith off the bottom of the ladder and, while they still have work to do to break into the top eight, it injects vital momentum into their campaign. More importantly, it restores confidence in a team that had begun to be written off in some quarters — an unfamiliar position for the three-time defending premiers.
NRL great Cooper Cronk, speaking on Fox League, called it a “premiership performance.”
“Nathan Cleary was untouchable tonight. That’s as good as I’ve seen him in a regular-season game,” Cronk said. “If you had any doubts about whether Penrith were still a threat, erase them now.”
Cleary’s dominant outing also reignites the Origin debate. With game two of the State of Origin series looming, New South Wales coach Michael Maguire will no doubt have been watching closely. Cleary’s return to form could be perfectly timed for a Blues recall.
For now, though, Penrith will enjoy the victory — and breathe a little easier. After weeks of pressure, speculation and soul-searching, they delivered when it mattered most. And at the heart of it all was their inspirational No.7.
If this version of Nathan Cleary is here to stay, the NRL had better take notice. The Panthers aren’t done yet.
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