Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai resume their prolific partnership in Penrith’s run to the finals

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Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai resume their prolific partnership in Penrith’s run to the finals

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary says his team’s triple treat of premierships has been inspired in some part by the known departures of key players, and the “last ride” for Panthers stars Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris is “something to be motivated by” in the run to the finals.

Luai and three of his victorious State of Origin teammates returned to training on Wednesday, having watched on as captain Nathan Cleary made his own successful return from injury with a game-winning field goal last weekend against the Dolphins.

It was a victory that kept the Panthers in second spot on the ladder, primed for another top-four finish and a double chance in the quest for a fourth straight premiership.

Cleary and Luai, who have been teammates since their childhood in Penrith’s junior system, haven’t played together since May when halfback Cleary injured his hamstring and have just seven home-and-away games remaining to play together before they hit the finals.

Camera IconJarome Luai (left) and Nathan Cleary (second from left) as junior Panthers. Credit: Supplied

That number could extend to 11 should Penrith make it to the grand final again and it’s a fact not lost on the coach.

“It’s the last ride for a very long combination,” Ivan Cleary said on Wednesday, with the dynamic duo set to play together again against St George Illawarra on Sunday.

“To be able to get those guys together with Romey (Luai) playing so well, I think that’ll be really exciting.

“This is the time of the year where you can get some combinations and work out what is best for you.

“We’re sitting OK. We’ve got a lot more to give, and we’re going to need to.

“The nice thing is we have that experience to know how it is going to look and feel. We’ve just got to work towards that.”

Nathan Cleary and Luai are looking to join the great Parramatta halves combination of Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling to win four premierships together, and this season is their last chance.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconCleary and Luai celebrate their 2023 grand final win. NRL Images Credit: The Daily Telegraph

Luai is off to the Wests Tigers in 2025, while front-row star Fisher-Harris is joining the Warriors, having made the shock decision to return home to New Zealand,

It’s not a new situation for the Panthers, who in recent seasons won premierships knowing the likes of Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau were all leaving.

Ivan Cleary suggested the new line of impending departures could be the source of some solid motivation as they look to scale the mountain again.

“It’s definitely inspired us in other ways before, the last couple of years,” he said.

“Romey is certainly following that theme, as is Fish (James Fisher-Harris). The guys who have left have finished (by) having their best years.

“It’s definitely an inspiration and something to be motivated by.”

Penrith could yet finish top of the table, with a round-24 clash against the Storm set to go some way to deciding top spot.

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