In just 20 minutes on Friday night, Penrith threatened to render the previous 16,376 minutes of the 2024 season irrelevant.
How else can you describe the way Nathan Cleary returned for the reigning three-time premiers and spearheaded the most impressive, precisely perfect quarter of football this season?
The Panthers wound up 30-10 winners in their last outing at Penrith Park, are preliminary final-bound once again and the first team to win 10 straight against the Roosters since rugby league began.
Coach Ivan Cleary described their first stanza, in which they piled 22 points past the Tricolours in as many minutes, as their best half this season.
And as for his son and star halfback, with a hand in three tries, sublime kicking game and desperate try-saving chase after Connor Watson charged down one of his punts?
“I thought he was alright,” Cleary senior smirked afterwards. “No, he was outstanding. He makes a big difference to our team, not just the way he plays but he gives everyone confidence.
“He’s got this knack of being out for a while and being able to come back and click straight into gear.”
Luke Garner celebrates a try with Nathan Cleary, Sunia Turuva and Isaah Yeo.Credit: Getty Images
The Roosters were able to wrestle their way back into the contest after being beaten physically in the eyes of Trent Robinson, exposing a defensive frailty or two on the edges in process.
But put it this way: if the Panthers repeat and extend that opening 20 minutes across an entire grand final, then they’re lifting the trophy for a fourth time.
Roosters halves Luke Keary and Sandon Smith were so ruthlessly targeted in defence, possession and field position was so strategically managed, and Liam Martin was just so possessed in attack and defence.
There was just no competing with them. Especially when Cleary is able to spend a month on the sidelines and come back in like he’s been there all along.
“It’s been a frustrating year,” Cleary said. “I just feel bad about not being out there. It’s almost embarrassing sometimes getting those injuries. But I set my sights on this game and had to get over it, there was no point moping around.”
So clinical were the Panthers, Brian To’o’s opening try looked as though it had been choreographed by artificial intelligence.
By the time an exhausted Lindsay Collins, a walk-up starter in Queensland and Australian front-rows, came off after 25 minutes, he had 26 tackles and just two run metres to his name.
Connor Watson finished with 69 tackles for the game and on report for one which had James Fisher-Harris clutching at his neck.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Credit: Getty Images
Robinson needs another selection drama like a hole in the head as the Roosters dust themselves off for a sudden-death semi-final against either Canterbury or Manly next Saturday night.
The Roosters coach insisted “you don’t have to be perfect” to beat Penrith, because “no team is perfect”.
When he pointed out that every team opens doors, he wasn’t wrong. Penrith’s opening rage was so sweet, it couldn’t be maintained.
Slick shifts to first the left edge for Joseph Suaalii, and then the right for James Tedesco, had the Roosters on the board and kind of, somehow, back in the game after half-time.
And when the Roosters went streaking away down their left, a forward pass call against Daniel Tupou looked harsh at best, but kept any miracle comeback at bay.
“I didn’t think it was forward,” Trent Robinson said.
“I don’t think anybody thought it forward besides the ref. You can’t get that wrong.”
Cleary, all but flawless from his boot, fittingly had the final say. His grubber for Garner’s second try put the Roosters down for good, father Ivan responding by wrapping his star halfback in cotton wool for the final few minutes.
Penrith have earned themselves a week off and are, once again, just 80 minutes from yet another grand final. Twenty minutes on Friday night was all it took to look like them winning the whole damn thing again.
