Penrith premiership-winning halfbacks Greg Alexander and Craig Gower have declared Nathan Cleary the club’s greatest-ever No. 7, even though he is still only 24 years of age.
In another show of adoration for the 2022 premiers, Alexander and Gower were also not offended by James Fisher-Harris’ declaration the current Panthers side was the best in the club’s history.
Cleary, who is now challenging James Tedesco as the best player in the game, was just one of the standouts in Sunday’s 28-12 victory.
It is always difficult comparing players from different eras, but Alexander and Gower had no issues giving the thumbs up to the current playmaker and co-captain.
“He is the best halfback the club has ever had,” Penrith legend Alexander told the Herald.
“In years to come, Nathan will be considered Penrith’s greatest player.
Better than Brandy: Nathan Cleary has been hailed Penrith’s greatest No. .7 at just 24 Credit:Getty Images
“I was a different player to Nathan, and I also played about 50 games at fullback. ‘Gowie’ [Craig Gower] was a premiership-winning captain and halfback who also spent time at hooker but was outstanding.
“But Nathan has been our best. He’s accomplished a fair bit already.
“When you get to around 27, that’s when a player reaches their peak, physically and in terms of experience.
“So there is still some upside to Nathan. Because he doesn’t rest on his laurels, Nathan will keep looking to improve – I’m quietly confident in saying Nathan will get better.”
Gower, who steered the 2003 Panthers to premiership victory, said of Cleary: “He’s already won two competitions, he’s only young and achieved so much already.
“His game management, he rarely makes a mistake, everything he does is high quality … what he does is pure class.”
Fisher-Harris stood on stage at Monday’s fan day and was a fan favourite. The Panthers faithful started chanting ‘We Hate Parra’ when he spoke. He later said “this is the greatest team ever”.
The back-to-back premierships compared to the one title won by Penrith in 1991 and 2003 was a good enough reason alone to make justify such a statement.
Alexander and Gower were not offended and said it was hard to argue otherwise. Alexander, who played before the professional era, played alongside Royce Simmons, Mark Geyer, Brad Fittler and Steve Carter, men who would hold their own in the modern era.
“It’s not disrespectful, it’s Fish’s opinion, and they’ve got a big claim to being the best Penrith team ever,” Alexander said.
“The 1991 and 2003 teams had special players in their side, players who would stand up in any era against the best.
“When you have a look at the accomplishments of this side, a team that has lost just 11 games the past three years, won 17 in a row to make the 2020 grand final, and to now go back to back, they have accomplished things no other team has.
“For James to say what he did, he’s well within his rights to say it.”
The average age of the Panthers is just 25 and will start short-priced favourites with the bookies to make it a title three-peat, something not achieved since Parramatta in the early eighties.
