It has been only three seasons since arguably the greatest rugby league player, Johnathon Thurston, retired.
The stats do not lie. Thurston is a four-time Dally M player of the year, four-time Dally M halfback of the year, four-time Rugby League Players Association player of the year, a golden boot winner, a Clive Churchill medal winner and much more.
When he retired I did not think I would see a player that could have the potential to reach those heights.
However, in 2021, Nathan Cleary is starting to become the type of player who could do just that.
Nathan Cleary is currently 23 years old and has already featured in a grand final and helped New South Wales secure back-to-back State of Origin series victories in 2018 and 2019. While Thurston won his first grand final in only his third season with the Canterbury Bulldogs, he was only an interchange player who found his spot in the squad due to an injured Steve Price. In 2005, at 22 years of age, Thurston signed with the North Queensland Cowboys, where his career really took off.
Thurston made his State of Origin debut in 2005 after a strong first half of the season at halfback with the Cowboys. Although they lost this series, Thurston would go on to keep his halves spot for many years. He also took the Cowboys to their first grand final, where they lost to the Wests Tigers. Thurston also ended the year as halfback of the year and Dally M player of the year.
Cleary won the halfback of the year award in 2020 and was extremely unlucky to miss out on Dally M player of the year honours, which went to Jack Wighton. This year, however, is looking more promising for him.
In 2021 Cleary has led the Penrith Panthers to 12 consecutive wins and is currently four points clear of second place in the Dally M leaderboard. The 12 straight wins are of course a team effort, but Cleary has led his team around with his direction and kicking game.
With Cleary and the Panthers looking as sharp as ever, is this the year that makes Nathan Cleary the best player in the world?
If he can lead New South Wales to a series win, the Penrith Panthers to a historic grand final win and claim the Dally M, I would have no problem declaring him the best rugby league player in the world and maybe, in ten years, the best player of the last decade.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Ha. Just like langer.
GregM
Roar Rookie
Sterlo also made it into Hulls Hall of Fame after a few years playing in the UK. 13 SOO, 4 times MOTM. That's one pretty good organiser
GregM
Roar Rookie
& JT was too small & can’t tackle!!
Billy Goat
Guest
What about Andrew Johns? Wins one comp in '01 and a footnote comp in '97.
GregM
Roar Rookie
long way to go before he should be spoken in the same breath as JT
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
And nsw couldn’t really find one during that period. He could’ve been handy
mushi
Roar Guru
Yeah he was good, unfortunately for him there always was at least one guy better
Nat
Roar Guru
I think you may have gilded the lily there just a touch. In the first instance you compare their respective careers by their age. Then you compare a 17yr career with what Cleary has achieved in 5 and not all of them are that flash, nor finals bound. JT lead the 05 team to the GF, while winning the Dally M and Daly M #7 so it is fair to say he lead them there. Same again in 2015 but with 4 Daly Ms, 7 positional Dally Ms, multiple Wally Lewis medals, Golden Boot awards. In fact, over 17yrs, his team missed the finals 3 yrs and that’s where Cleary is now. No one is running down Cleary’s ability but he’s got another 12yrs at this level before he gets mentioned in the same breathe.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi mushi. I didn’t mind that guy, bad luck with injury, I thought he good at rep level also.
mushi
Roar Guru
Somewhere Scott Prince just read that and threw his phone across the room
Paul
Roar Guru
A tad premature don't you think Guy? There's no doubt Cleary's playing some quality football, but I'd have thought he needs to actually win grand finals and show dominance in SOO & Test matches before any comparison with a future HOF can be made.
matth
Roar Guru
There is the Origin and National records to consider as well as the point scoring records
matth
Roar Guru
Yep just 8 or 9 Origin series wins, where he actually dominates at times, plus 8 or 9 more years at the top of the NRL tree and we can have these discussions.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Tony. I can hardly comprehend 37 game. Lol. Top form
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi JGK. Darn Parra not replacing there old talent, no plan at all. Lol.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
That 87 year he was on fire. I sure he won a state of origin MoM that year. NSW didn’t win the series but did win that crazy USA game. Lol. I think it was a double Lang park game year (people whinging now days about Qld getting two games, lol, so hard for nsw to win a series with two games at Lang park)
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I don’t know, for me different times have different skills, judging a generation of players that are e full time against guys that had a day job. A player that is ahead of the curve in his era is one indication. Cleary was behind a slouch team last year. How do you rate Langer and Stuart?
JGK
Roar Guru
By the 1987 season, Parra had lost Cronin, Price, Grothe was a shadow of his former self due to injuries, ditto Steve Ella and Kenny had played his last SOO and Test that year. Yet Sterling won the Dally Half and POTY, the Rothmans Medal and the Golden Boot that season. He was affected by injuries for much of 88 and 89 before winning the Rothmans again in 1990 in a team that finished 8th.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Joey. Yeah it a totally different game today. Tough was def a big part for him but not all he was to me, he was a nsw and Aust rep for almost all of the 70’s. He never won a ‘state of origin’ game, but only played one, lol. I think he would have to be in race for most dominant half of the 70’s. Which guys do you like for that decade?
Joey
Guest
Sterling was also surrounded by star players throughout his career. I don’t think he had as much individual skill. More of an organiser mostly.