Sep 1st, 2017

Sep 1st, 2017

Twelve months ago, Nathan Cleary was off limits.

Now Penrith coach Anthony Griffin believes the sky is the limit for the teenage NRL sensation, who is on track to finish the season as the youngest top pointscorer in 104 years.

Ahead of Saturday's final-round clash against Manly at Lottoland, Cleary's 212 points is 24 clear of nearest rival Jarrod Croker of Canberra.

Should he hold off the Raiders pointscoring wizard, Cleary will be the first 19-year-old since South Sydney winger Harold Horder in 1913 to finish the year with most points.

Griffin admits he still can't come to grips with Cleary playing just his second year of grade football.

"He gets a lot of media and press, but tomorrow's going to be the first time he's finished a full season of first grade, which you have to keep checking yourself with," Griffin said.

"Last year he come in at round 12, so this is his first full year of first grade. What he's achieved is a credit to him and the way he approaches his football.

"Hopefully he has a good game tomorrow night."

It's been a remarkable ascension from his debut midway through 2016, when the son of current Wests Tigers and former Panthers mentor was shielded from media for his entire year.

Cleary was gagged from interviews until after the Panthers finals race ended against Canberra.

"It's hard to keep him off-limits now. There's no limits with Nathan, but as you guys see the whole time, he's extremely composed, level-headed," Griffin said.

"That's the way he trains, that's the way he behaves, that's the way he plays his football.

"I've said before, it's a credit to the way he's been brought up and the reason he's playing such good football at a young age is because he's got a really composed head on his shoulders."

With key pair Dylan Edwards and Matt Moylan likely to be out for the Sea Eagles match, Griffin will be relying on Cleary to help the team cement a home elimination final next week.

Veteran Dean Whare will wear the No.1 against Manly.

"It's hard when you lose a key position player at any time of the year. At the moment we've got a couple on the sidelines," Griffins aid.

"But as has happened all year for us, whoever we've given a job to, they've always done it. You need that in your club and team to be able to compete at this time of the year."

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