{"id":469927,"date":"2025-09-10T21:06:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T21:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=469927"},"modified":"2025-09-11T01:18:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T01:18:22","slug":"ace-up-the-sleeve-for-panthers-after-mid-year-hiccup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=469927","title":{"rendered":"'Ace up the sleeve' for Panthers after mid-year 'hiccup'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Goalkicking guru Darryl Halligan believes Penrith<\/a> have an ace up their sleeve as they chase a fifth-straight title in the finals series.<\/p>\n

Widely regarded as the best goalkicker rugby league has ever known, Halligan has nominated Panthers star Nathan Cleary<\/a> as the best kicker in the finals race.<\/p>\n

And that could give the Panthers the edge in what is certain to be a series of tightly-fought matches in the month ahead.<\/p>\n

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Halligan now works as a goalkicking coach and has Cleary – as well as several other kickers in the title chase – among his clients.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And the statistics back up Halligan's claim – Cleary is kicking at 87 per cent in 2025 and is well clear of his rivals in the post-season.<\/p>\n

"I may be a little biased but Nathan has really been hitting them well and comes into the finals with his confidence very high," Halligan told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

"He has a great technique and is at the stage of his career where he handles the big-game pressure really well.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

"He had a bit of a hiccup through the State of Origin period where he had to stop kicking for a while because of a groin injury – but he is over that now and kicking as well as I have ever seen him.<\/p>\n

"Early in the season I thought Jamal Fogarty was the best of the bunch, but Nathan has caught him now. He just knows where the posts are and has a real feel for them.<\/p>\n

"I also rate Critta [Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton] very highly – he is a perfectionist and can do it all.<\/p>\n

\"Stephen<\/p>\n

"It will just come down to who handles the pressure the best on the day and I'm looking forward to watching how all the guys do."<\/p>\n

Top goalkickers in NRL finals series\ufeff (minimum 50 attempts)<\/strong><\/h3>\n