**Andrew Johns Declares Nathan Cleary the Undisputed GOAT, Admitting He Surpasses Johns and Thurston Combined After Historic Four-Peat at Just 27**
The world of rugby league has witnessed many legends, but few have ever sparked a debate as seismic as the one surrounding Nathan Cleary. At just 27 years old, the Penrith Panthers captain has achieved what many thought impossible—a historic four-peat in the NRL premiership, a feat that has not only cemented his legacy but forced the game’s greatest minds to reconsider the very definition of greatness. Among them is Andrew Johns, the man long regarded as the finest halfback in history, who has now conceded that Cleary has surpassed not only him but also Johnathan Thurston, the other titan of the modern era.
Johns, known as “The Eighth Immortal,” has never been one for hyperbole. His words carry weight, his opinions shaped by decades of dominance on the field and astute analysis off it. So when he declares Cleary the undisputed greatest of all time (GOAT), the rugby league world listens. “I’ve watched every great halfback of the last 50 years,” Johns admitted in a candid interview. “But what Nathan has done, at his age, with the pressure he’s carried, is beyond anything I or JT ever achieved. He’s not just better—he’s in a different league.”
The numbers alone are staggering. Cleary’s four consecutive premierships—each with him as the undisputed leader and clutch performer—put him in rarefied air. No halfback in the NRL era has achieved such sustained success. His record in grand finals is pristine: three man-of-the-match performances, including a 40-20 kick in the dying minutes of the 2023 decider that sealed his legend. His kicking game is surgical, his defense relentless, and his ability to elevate his teammates unparalleled. But it’s not just the trophies that set him apart—it’s the manner in which he’s won them.
Johns, who won two premierships with the Newcastle Knights and dominated the State of Origin arena, acknowledges that Cleary’s mental toughness is his defining trait. “I thought I was tough, but Nathan’s resilience is something else,” he said. “To carry the weight of expectation every single week, to deliver when it matters most, to do it year after year—that’s what separates him. JT and I had our moments, but Nathan’s consistency at the highest level is freakish.”
Thurston, the heart and soul of North Queensland’s 2015 premiership and a four-time Dally M Medalist, was renowned for his creativity and never-say-die attitude. Yet even he never strung together four straight titles. Cleary’s Panthers have redefined dynasty, blending individual brilliance with a team ethos that seems impervious to fatigue or complacency. “People forget how hard it is to stay on top,” Johns added. “One title is tough. Two is rare. Four? That’s immortality.”
The debate over rugby league’s GOAT has long revolved around Johns, Thurston, and the occasional nod to Clive Churchill or Wally Lewis. But Cleary’s ascent has rewritten the criteria. Where Johns was mercurial and Thurston gritty, Cleary is a hybrid of both—a player with the vision of a chess grandmaster and the toughness of a frontline soldier. His game has no weaknesses. He kicks like a machine, defends like a lock, and orchestrates attacks with a calmness that belies his age.
Perhaps most impressively, Cleary has done it in an era of unprecedented parity. The NRL’s salary cap was designed to prevent dynasties, yet Penrith’s culture, built around Cleary’s leadership, has defied the system. “He’s the ultimate professional,” Johns noted. “No distractions, no ego, just relentless improvement. That’s why he’s left us all behind.”
The question now isn’t whether Cleary is the GOAT—it’s how much higher he can climb. At 27, he could play another decade. Another title or two would make the debate academic. But for Johns, the verdict is already in. “I used to think records were made to be broken,” he said. “But what Nathan’s done? I don’t see anyone ever matching it.”
In the annals of rugby league history, few moments are as humbling as a legend admitting he’s been surpassed. For Andrew Johns, a man who defined an era, to bow to Nathan Cleary is the ultimate endorsement. The GOAT debate is over. The new king has arrived.
