In the days when Penrith Park was a grass-free dust bowl and the Panthers were known as “Chocolate Soldiers” for their propensity to melt under pressure, a local kid pulled on the white-and-brown No7 jumper and fairly scorched the earth. They called him “Brandy” after the cocktail made from cognac, crème de cacao, and cream. But he was better than that.
Greg “Brandy” Alexander was one of the great halfbacks of his time, or any time. Slick, smooth, quick. A ball-player with the running game of a fullback. He had a brilliant chip and chase. He’d bunt it into space and burn after it, owning the bounce of the old leather Steeden. He didn’t so much beat defenders as scythe through them like Forrest Gump through a field of wheat.
But in Brandy’s day, defensive lines were more ragged because defenders would actually get tired. Attrition was a thing. And a speedy smart man could tear big dunderheads to shreds.
Penrith’s version of the great Brandy today – in looks and smarts and silky smooth moves – is Nathan Cleary, who’s pulling off his deeds in front of a committed, smart and well-drilled line of primed and cocked defenders. Today when athletic forwards get tired they’re taken off and replaced by athletic forwards. The reduced interchange should help that, a story for another time.
This one’s about the Panthers belting the Dragons on Saturday night. These are the two best defensive sides in the comp, the two best sides in the comp. And they went at each other like the Origin coaches were watching. Penrith’s speed off the line – and the physicality of their work once there – was particularly telling.
Penrith’s bruisers were led by Reagan Campbell-Gillard – Village People moustache, prison haircut, legs like Harbour Bridge stanchions – he’s surely the Blues starting front-rower. In 45 high-octane minutes he made 32 tackles and 114 metres. But numbers don’t talk of presence. None of these league men are “frightened” of their opponents. But there are some whom they know are coming, and with intent. RCG is one of them.
After the Dragons’ defence was burned out wide following a fine burst by Tyrone Peachey - 187m, perhaps the best “utility” man in the NRL, surely another in Brad Fittler’s notebook - James Maloney took the ball one off the ruck, passed to Cleary who stepped, threw a flourishing dummy inside and shot a right-hand fend into a defender. Then speed and power carried him over with other defenders hanging off. It was some play. He is 20-years-old.
It was a constant of his game. Cleary’s a halfback with hands and feet, sure. His bombs are abominations. His passes are smart little missiles. But like Alexander, Cleary can move. He takes them on in broken play, with defence retreating, and makes things happen. Halves must run. Too many just dish it. Cleary attacks with many guns.
Jimmy Maloney? If he makes a mistake, he doesn’t sweat it. It’s like a golfer making double-bogey – why should it affect the next hole? Yet it can. Maloney, though, just keeps on truckin’. And he can kick goals. Origin games are generally hard-fought, with minimal errors, and all those beautiful completions. But refs are penalising more this year and teams are taking points. Maloney kicks at 90%. So does N.Cleary. They’re the two best kickers in the comp.
And so the Dragons and Panthers continued to go at each other hard. It’s Saints’ lot now they’re the big dog in the comp. Everyone’s out to get ‘em. The match had high intensity. Both sides flew off the line, looking to land “shots”. Big shots, high shots.
They went at Cleary, hard, as they do all gun halves. But Cleary, as is his way, kept on playing, scheming. There were run-arounds, the show-n-go. Subtle manoeuvres. He’s a “heads-up” sort of player; his vision is the hole in front of him, sure. But he knows what’s out wide and has the tools to hoick it.
In one set of six Cleary ripped off: an inside ball, a face ball, a hot potato shift-along, a well-weighted floater and a netball-style overhead hoist. There were massive bombs. Subtle grubbers. And all of it delivered with the calculated, cool hand of an old pro.
And so after 80 fine and pulsating minutes of footy, the Panthers had belted the competition’s best team 28-2. The Panthers were the better, more committed team. Saints weren’t poor – but the Panther’s D was staunch, committed, and had feeling. You wondered how long they could keep it up. The answer was: the whole match.
And our NRL has another top dog.
And NSW has a halfback like Winx has a third Cox Plate.
