Nathan Cleary eyes freedom of second-receiver alongside Jarome Luai as Penrith chase fourth straight NRL title.

Nathan Cleary believes his time out injured can boost the evolution of Penrith’s attack, as he looks to sporadically reprise his second-receiver role from last year’s grand final.

Penrith’s controlling half throughout their three-title dynasty, Cleary’s move to second receiver was the catalyst for the club’s comeback in the 2023 title decider.

With Jarome Luai off the field injured, Cleary ran off service from replacement half Jack Cogger to set up the Panthers’ first tries as they came from 24-8 down late in the match to win against Brisbane.

It’s now a role Cleary wants to recreate more often as part of Penrith’s push for a fourth-straight title.

Cleary took note of the way Luai excelled in his own nine-week absence, with the No.6 starring in the halfback role.

And he believes he can adapt his own game to suit the new strings in his halves partner’s bow.

“I think (the combination) does change,” Cleary said.

“The way he excelled while I was out, being in that first-receiver role. I want to try and complement that.

“That was the one main difference while I was out, finding areas I could complement his game and help him do things he was doing really well.”

There were signs of the move in Sunday’s 46-10 win over the Dragons, where Cleary scored a hat-trick of tries and set up two others in his first game back alongside Luai after a hamstring injury.

While Cleary was still the dominant half with the most touches of any playmaker on the field, Luai spent parts of the game organising.

The five-eighth’s 56 touches were the most he has had in a game alongside Cleary all year, with 13 of them at first-receiver.

On five of those occasions he passed off to Cleary, who finished with a career-high 242 running metres.

“We have a good understanding of each other. We know when (it’s time for Luai to take charge and for me to go second receiver),” Cleary said.

“That is probably why I enjoy playing with him so much, sometimes we don’t have to talk. We can look at each other and follow a play.

“We are constantly talking to each other about what works for him and what works for me, and how we can give our best for the team.”

Cleary said it had not yet sunk in that he and Luai were playing their last stretch of games together, ahead of the latter’s move to Wests Tigers next year.

“You have to constantly evolve,” Cleary said of their combination.

“You can’t just be happy with where you’re at. Because teams get better every year and teams get better every week.

“They’re always coming for you, so you have to keep getting better. And that’s no different for me and Romey and our combination.”