Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai to face-off for first time in Panthers v Tigers clash

Especially when statistics compiled from NRL records, dating right back to their earliest junior days in 2015, tally up no less than 303 try involvements in Harold Matthews, SG Ball, under 20s, NRL and State of Origin – either scored by Luai or Cleary, or set up for their teammates.

In all, their 128 games together at every level yielded an 80 per cent win rate.

And once they partnered together in first-grade for Penrith, statistically the greatest halves pairing in rugby league history – with a win percentage of 87.6 – emerged, ahead of fellow four-time title winners Kevin Walters and Allan Langer (70 per cent), and Brett Kenny and Peter Sterling (67 per cent).

“It will be weird, the last time I remember [playing] him was the (2002) World Cup final and before that, we would’ve been about 16,” Cleary said after Penrith’s gritty win over Parramatta.

“He was playing for St Marys, I was playing for (Penrith) Brothers. We had a few duels back then but obviously it’s been a long time.

“I do remember probably the biggest upset in junior footy history, we beat them one day and they were stacked. They were so good. They used to beat us just about 50-0 every time they played us and one day we got them.

“He might have cried. I’m not sure that’ll happen again [but] he’s an outstanding player and you want to test yourself against the best. It will be a bit weird at NRL level but I’m looking forward to it.”

The Tigers will be firm outsiders on Sunday afternoon, with Cleary’s kicking game well and truly back after an off-colour Origin, if his match-winning 40-20 and sideline conversions against the Eels are anything to go by.

Luai’s game-management of a building Tigers side remains his steepest learning curve as a top-line halfback.

“But just his energy alone has lifted a lot of players around him,” Cleary says.

“That’s probably his greatest asset. Last year [when Luai spent more time than ever in Cleary’s No.7 jersey while he was out injured] really prepped him well for this year.

“His hands are on the ball a lot for the Tigers at the moment. Why wouldn’t you, he’s such a great player. I tune in for the Tigers boys I know well, obviously ‘Tito’ (Sunia Turuva), Terrell May and Romey in particular.

“I always enjoy watching them and keeping an eye out on them. It’s been good to see them playing some good footy, particularly when they’ve got momentum, they’re one of the best teams in the comp, I reckon.”

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Again, Cleary can only grin when asked what that famed boom-box blaring, glaring and yapping energy looks like come scrum time, when he finds himself at close quarters with Luai, arguably the game’s most combative playmaker.

“I don’t really start the chirp but if he starts it then we’ll see how it is,” Cleary says.

“I think there’s just always that mutual respect there. We don’t talk all the time but whenever we do or whenever we see each other, it’s always love.

“You’ll never be able to take away what we’ve been able to achieve together. It’s always respect and love whenever we see each other.”

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