Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary has been crowned the 2023 Clive Churchill Medallist, lifting his side to a historic premiership.
The Broncos held a 24-8 lead in the 56th minute, before the gun halfback injected himself in to the game.
The 25-year-old made a break for Moses Leota’s try in the 62nd minute before eventually scoring the match-winner with only three minutes left on the clock.
Cleary had already won a Clive Churchill Medal and was awarded the honour after Penrith’s 2021 grand final victory.
Now, after winning his second, Cleary has become the first player to ever win the player of the match award twice.
Cleary finished the night with two try assists, two line breaks, a line break assist, four tackle breaks and a try to cap off yet another impressive season.
“Thank you so much to everyone who turned out, this honestly doesn’t feel real right now, can’t wait for it to set in,” Cleary said after he was presented with the medal.
“To the Broncos boys, absolute beast team, very young. Shout out to Ezra Mam as well, you’re a freak. Thank you for that game, it’s the hardest game we’ve played in.
“We’ve worked so hard for this and we are still just getting started so let’s go.”
For league legend Cooper Cronk, Cleary encompassed “greatness” with his match-winning performance.
“He throws everything that’s been on that team in terms of history on his shoulders and with three minutes to go in the game,” Cronk said on Fox League/
“Finds space, touches down. Greatness arrived.”
Meanwhile, Michael Ennis summed up the performance by labelling him a “rugby league champion”.
“They talk about the championship moments and Cleary owned them, it was absolutely incredible to start that second half when Ezra Mam ripped the hearts out of the Penrith side,” Ennis said.
“Yet as Penrith do, hadn’t always capitalised on the scoreboard, but often come over the top of the opposition in the second half.
“The spotlight just seemed to go so brightly on Nathan Cleary, the pressure gauge would have been absolutely incredible.
“The weight of expectation with everyone looking at Cleary going ‘how does he get his side out of this’.
“You see Jarome Luai leave the field... it was all on Nathan Cleary and he stood up like the great champions do and completely owned the performance and took it away from Brisbane.
“In one of the great performances that coaches, all across sport, will reflect on about a desire to continue to fight even when the game isn’t going your way.
“That the game is never done, and that’s what the champions do and tonight Nathan Cleary has become a rugby league champion.”
The NRL world, meabwhile was stunned by Cleary’s second half.
News Corp’s Tim Michell said: “Nathan Cleary has just produced one of the greatest 20 minutes into Aussie sporting history.”
Nine’s Mark Gottlieb said: “Nathan Cleary. Wow! I’m in awe. You can never question him again. This is a superhuman performance. Out of this world. Unbelievable. I’m speechless.”
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns said the last 20 minutes put Cleary among the greatest halves of football by a halfback in a grand final.
“Nathan Cleary has just elevated himself into NRL immortality,” Johns said.
Mat Thompson said of Cleary’s masterclass: “He’s just elevated himself into champion status.
“This is beyond belief. There is disbelief about what they have achieved tonight. It looked like they were going to lose by 30.”
The Broncos held a 24-8 lead in the 56th minute, before the gun halfback injected himself in to the game.
The 25-year-old made a break for Moses Leota’s try in the 62nd minute before eventually scoring the match-winner with only three minutes left on the clock.
Cleary had already won a Clive Churchill Medal and was awarded the honour after Penrith’s 2021 grand final victory.
Now, after winning his second, Cleary has become the first player to ever win the player of the match award twice.
Cleary finished the night with two try assists, two line breaks, a line break assist, four tackle breaks and a try to cap off yet another impressive season.
“Thank you so much to everyone who turned out, this honestly doesn’t feel real right now, can’t wait for it to set in,” Cleary said after he was presented with the medal.
“To the Broncos boys, absolute beast team, very young. Shout out to Ezra Mam as well, you’re a freak. Thank you for that game, it’s the hardest game we’ve played in.
“We’ve worked so hard for this and we are still just getting started so let’s go.”
For league legend Cooper Cronk, Cleary encompassed “greatness” with his match-winning performance.
“He throws everything that’s been on that team in terms of history on his shoulders and with three minutes to go in the game,” Cronk said on Fox League/
“Finds space, touches down. Greatness arrived.”
Meanwhile, Michael Ennis summed up the performance by labelling him a “rugby league champion”.
“They talk about the championship moments and Cleary owned them, it was absolutely incredible to start that second half when Ezra Mam ripped the hearts out of the Penrith side,” Ennis said.
“Yet as Penrith do, hadn’t always capitalised on the scoreboard, but often come over the top of the opposition in the second half.
“The spotlight just seemed to go so brightly on Nathan Cleary, the pressure gauge would have been absolutely incredible.
“The weight of expectation with everyone looking at Cleary going ‘how does he get his side out of this’.
“You see Jarome Luai leave the field... it was all on Nathan Cleary and he stood up like the great champions do and completely owned the performance and took it away from Brisbane.
“In one of the great performances that coaches, all across sport, will reflect on about a desire to continue to fight even when the game isn’t going your way.
“That the game is never done, and that’s what the champions do and tonight Nathan Cleary has become a rugby league champion.”
The NRL world, meabwhile was stunned by Cleary’s second half.
News Corp’s Tim Michell said: “Nathan Cleary has just produced one of the greatest 20 minutes into Aussie sporting history.”
Nine’s Mark Gottlieb said: “Nathan Cleary. Wow! I’m in awe. You can never question him again. This is a superhuman performance. Out of this world. Unbelievable. I’m speechless.”
Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns said the last 20 minutes put Cleary among the greatest halves of football by a halfback in a grand final.
“Nathan Cleary has just elevated himself into NRL immortality,” Johns said.
Mat Thompson said of Cleary’s masterclass: “He’s just elevated himself into champion status.
“This is beyond belief. There is disbelief about what they have achieved tonight. It looked like they were going to lose by 30.”