NRL superstar Nathan Cleary has made history once again, becoming the all-time leading point scorer for the Penrith Panthers.
The 27-year-old halfback surpassed Ryan Girdler’s long-standing record of 1,572 points when he slotted Penrith’s second conversion against the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Girdler, a former New South Wales and Australian representative known for his goal-kicking and dynamic play at centre, had held the record since 2004. He achieved the feat in 204 games across 11 seasons with the club.
Cleary, however, broke the record in just 178 matches for the Panthers.
“It’s pretty cool, I guess,” Cleary told Fox Sports after the match.
The reigning premiers bounced back in style, securing a commanding 40-12 win over the Roosters.
During the broadcast, Fox Sports commentator and rugby league legend Kevin Walters declared: “They are back.”
“The Panthers have sent a message loud and clear – they’ve rediscovered their confidence and rhythm,” he added.
The win was a much-needed boost for Penrith, who had suffered five consecutive defeats leading into the game.
The first half was tightly contested, with both teams locked at 6-all until a late try gave the Panthers the lead heading into the break — a momentum shift they capitalized on in the second half.
“It’s great to see the effort in the first half pay off after halftime,” said head coach Ivan Cleary.
Speaking to Fox Sports, the four-time premiership-winning coach emphasized the importance of leadership in a squad filled with young, relatively inexperienced players.
“We’ve got some young guys who are carrying the weight of a legacy they didn’t create, and the last five weeks have been tough on them,” Cleary said.
“But I think tonight the boys found their rhythm again and remembered what winning feels like.”
