Dynamic duo in a league of their own

They are the NRL’S top guns who will go blow-for-blow in Thursday night’s all-sydney blockbuster.

Penrith champion Nathan Cleary and South Sydney’s Cody Walker have torn apart a star-studded field to become the NRL’S top two players for try involvements.

Cleary is the ice man, Walker can be a hothead but the chasing pack is lagging a long way behind.

Since 2020, the two stars have logged some amazing stats. Whatever the try involvement category, Walker and Cleary are running first and second.

Cleary is averaging a stunning 2.58 try involvements a game since 2020, the best of any player. Walker is running second by averaging 2.44.

Their closest rival is Manly’s Daly Cherry-evans back on 1.78, followed by Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds (1.73) and Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson (1.56).

Walker has been involved in 195 tries, Cleary 165. Again, they are well clear of the rest.

Since 2020, Walker has posted 90 try assists, Cleary on 78. Walker has posted 118 line break assists, Cleary 64.

In terms of try contributions, Cleary (64) and Walker (60) have blitzed the field and set up a scintillating match-up for the Accor Stadium game.

“Cody would be up there with the best players I have played with,” said ex-souths teammate Sam Burgess. “He did some things on the field when I played with him that blew me away.

“He has a natural instinct and ability to see things a bit slower than other people might and then execute his play with precision.”

Pressed on Cleary, Burgess said: “He is a special player, I played against him in his first few games and tried to knock him off his game. But he wasn’t fazed for one second.”