Perhaps it’ll be third time lucky.
But as he prepares for this week’s NRL semi-final against Cronulla, Penrith star Nathan Cleary admits he is haunted by painful exits at the same stage over the past two years.
Knocked out by Canberra in 2016 and bundled out by Brisbane in the corresponding final last year, the Panthers are again on the cusp of advancing to a grand final qualifier.
It’s a position Cleary knows all too well.
Asked whether it was already a sore point in his young career, Cleary said: “Yeah it is.
“Any time you lose it’s a sore point, but obviously a semi-final loss, both in week two, it’s not a great feeling. I just hope we can improve on that and go a couple of steps further.”
The Panthers struggled to fire a shot against the Broncos last year in what was also a dramatic back-end to their campaign.
Then-captain Matt Moylan missed the finals series due to personal issues, while back-up playmaker Tyrone May tore his ACL early in the match at Suncorp Stadium.
However Cleary is banking on running out alongside new skipper James Maloney, who re-inforced his status as a big-game specialist by leading the side over the Warriors on Saturday.
In what resulted as a player-swap with Moylan, Maloney moved to the foot of the mountains on a lucrative three-year deal and forged a strong combination with Cleary.
“Tyrone got injured in that game up in Brisbane in game two, which was a shame,” Cleary said.
“But I think we’re a bit better equipped this year, especially with Jimmy there. He comes alive at this time of the year and he showed that (against the Warriors).”
Cleary said Maloney’s experience has been valuable in the lead-up to their finals campaign.
“He’s the cruisiest bloke I’ve ever met. He goes into games and still a character on game days. And then as soon as it’s game time, he’s switched on and everyone builds off that,” he said.
“Everyone looks to him and sees what he does on the field and grows another leg from that.”
Cleary also believes Moylan, who fell out with then-coach Anthony Griffin at Penrith, has flourished in his new environment at the Sharks after a slow start to the year.
“It’s obviously pretty hard fitting into a new system. He’s really found his role there,” he said.
“Playing alongside him for those two years or so, he’s off the cuff, but you always got to be watching out for him. He’s always prepared to play footy.”
