You’ve come in hot here 😅 — and I get it. Nathan Cleary is already being spoken about as one of the all-time greats. At just 27 years old, he’s accomplished things most players only dream of: multiple premierships, Origin dominance, Clive Churchill Medals, a reputation for ice-cold match management under pressure, and yes — that rare ability to lift a dynasty like Penrith into a historic four-peat.
But your challenge is to see whether there’s “evidence” anyone else — past or present — could be considered better. That means digging into rugby league history, comparing eras, looking at Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, and others. It also means addressing the debate with fairness: balancing Cleary’s unprecedented achievements with the legacies of those who shaped the game before him.
Nathan Cleary vs The Rest: Is the Debate Really Settled?
The Case for Cleary’s Supremacy
When Nathan Cleary steered Penrith to their fourth consecutive premiership by age 27, he entered uncharted waters. No modern NRL halfback — not Johnathan Thurston, not Andrew Johns, not Cooper Cronk — has matched that feat. In a salary-cap era designed to prevent dynasties, Cleary became the architect of one.
His numbers tell a staggering story:
- Premierships: 4 (and all before turning 28).
- Clive Churchill Medals: Multiple, including arguably the greatest grand final performance of all time in 2023, when he single-handedly dragged Penrith from 24-8 down to victory.
- State of Origin: A central figure in NSW’s series wins, often carrying the burden of expectation.
- Test Football: Already a world champion, adding to his résumé at international level.
Add to that his leadership, composure, and game-management IQ. Cleary is already nicknamed “The Iceman” for good reason — when the moment is biggest, his pulse slows. Drop goals, sideline conversions, 40-20s, pinpoint bombs, controlled kicking games — he executes them with a mechanical precision that others only dream of.
By the raw measure of winning, clutch ability, and legacy-building, Cleary stands apart.
The Legends Who Came Before
But here’s where the debate gets interesting. Rugby league isn’t played in a vacuum. Comparing players across eras is always messy. Different rules, different defensive speeds, different interpretations of refereeing, different pressures.
To suggest no one will ever come close to Cleary risks ignoring the titans who built the game into what it is today. Let’s look at a few of them.
Andrew Johns (“Joey”)
- Accolades: 2 premierships (1997, 2001), 3 Dally M Medals, 2 Golden Boots.
- Legacy: Widely regarded as the most naturally gifted halfback in history. Johns could pass, kick, run, tackle, and goal-kick at elite levels. He was the complete footballer.
- Impact: Changed how the halfback role was played, effectively creating the blueprint for the modern No.7.
Even Johns himself has praised Cleary, suggesting Nathan’s control and coolness may exceed what he achieved. But the “best ever” conversation is nuanced: Johns didn’t win a four-peat, but he lifted Newcastle from obscurity to glory, carried NSW to countless Origin wins, and influenced the game’s style more than almost anyone.
Johnathan Thurston (JT)
- Accolades: 1 premiership (2004), 4 Dally M Medals, 3 Golden Boots, countless clutch Origin and Test moments.
- Legacy: The heartbeat of Queensland’s dynasty. Famous for his competitive fire, creativity, and never-say-die attitude.
- Moments: The 2015 Grand Final, where his sideline conversion hit the post before his golden-point field goal sealed the Cowboys’ first premiership, is etched into NRL folklore.
Cleary has titles and control, but Thurston’s individual brilliance, vision, and leadership made him arguably the most influential player of his generation.
Cooper Cronk
- Accolades: 4 premierships (2007*, 2009*, 2012, 2017, 2018*), 2 Dally M Medals, 2 Golden Boots.
- Legacy: The ultimate game manager. Cronk lacked the flair of Johns or Thurston but may have been the most cerebral halfback ever. His decision-making, kicking, and discipline made Melbourne and later the Roosters juggernauts.
- Moment: Playing the 2018 Grand Final with a broken scapula — and still controlling the game — remains one of the gutsiest performances in league history.
If Cleary is the Iceman, Cronk was the Chess Master. His consistency across two clubs, for nearly 15 years, gives him an edge in longevity — something Cleary is only beginning to approach.
Darren Lockyer
Though he ended his career at five-eighth, Lockyer’s vision and leadership rank him alongside the greats. Origin wins, premierships, a World Cup — Lockyer was a generational figure, often dictating the tempo of games with surgical precision.
Wally Lewis
“The King.” In the pre-NRL era, Lewis dominated State of Origin like no one before or since. His presence alone lifted Queensland, and his legend rests on more than statistics. He made people believe.
Comparing Across Eras
This is where the debate gets thorny.
- Training & Conditioning: Cleary benefits from modern sports science, nutrition, and recovery techniques. Johns played through an era of less professionalism — yet still dominated.
- Defensive Lines: Today’s defensive structures are far tighter. Cleary’s ability to control games against such systems is extraordinary. But older players had more freedom to improvise.
- Salary Cap: The modern cap makes dynasties nearly impossible — making Penrith’s four-peat historic. But it also means legends like Lewis or Johns may not have been able to keep squads together the way Cleary’s Panthers have.
- Media & Pressure: Cleary plays in an era of 24/7 social media scrutiny. Johns and Thurston endured media pressure, but nothing like today’s microscope.
So, who has the harder task? It depends on perspective.
Evidence for Others Being “Better”
If we want to play devil’s advocate, here’s evidence some could still claim:
- Johns: A more complete individual skill set — arguably no weakness in his game. If rugby league is about talent, he’s still top.
- Thurston: Carried weaker sides. Unlike Cleary, who has a Penrith juggernaut around him, Thurston often was the Cowboys. His ability to drag a team over the line was unmatched.
- Cronk: Longevity and adaptability. Played in nine grand finals across two clubs, winning six. That’s consistency across eras.
- Lewis: Defined State of Origin like no one before or since. Cleary is great in Origin, but Lewis was Origin.
- Lockyer: Reinvented himself mid-career, excelling in two positions while captaining club, state, and country.
Why Cleary Still Clears Them
Yet, despite all those arguments, Cleary’s case remains overwhelming.
- Premiership Four-Peat: No halfback in the NRL era has matched it. Period.
- Clutch Greatness: The 2023 GF comeback is arguably the single greatest halfback performance ever.
- Composure: No player — not even Cronk — looks more in control of a big game. Cleary dictates tempo like a conductor.
- Youth: At 27, he’s achieved what others managed across entire careers. What happens if he keeps this pace until 33? 35?
The “GOAT” Debate: Settled or Evolving?
Rugby league loves its GOAT debates because the game is so layered. Who’s the best? It depends on the criteria:
- Most talented: Andrew Johns.
- Most competitive/fiery: Thurston.
- Most cerebral/consistent: Cronk.
- Most Origin-defining: Lewis.
- Most transformative: Lockyer.
- Most successful in the cap era (so far): Cleary.
So, has Cleary cleared them all? Maybe. Maybe not. At 27, he’s already done what many never could. But greatness is also about endurance. Johns, Thurston, and Cronk gave us 15-20 years at the top. Cleary is still midway through his career.
If he maintains this level for another five to seven years, the debate may genuinely be over.
Conclusion: The Ice Man’s Place
Nathan Cleary at 27 is arguably the greatest NRL halfback of the modern era, with a résumé that already dwarfs most careers. His four-peat, his big-game mastery, his calm leadership — they make him unique.
But saying “no one will ever come close” risks dismissing the legends who shaped the game. Johns with his genius, Thurston with his heart, Cronk with his precision, Lewis with his Origin aura — all sit at the table.
What makes Cleary special is that he’s joined them at the table so young. And if he keeps stacking trophies, stacking performances, and redefining what’s possible in the modern game, then yes — the debate might soon be settled for good.
Until then, the fairest answer is this: Cleary is already in the conversation as the best. Whether he clears them all forever depends on what the next decade holds.
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