The ice man nailed an 85th-minute field goal to clinch Penrith a thrilling 23-22 win over the gallant Dolphins in golden point.
The Panthers lost Mitch Kenny to a broken leg in a sour note to Friday night's match at Darwin's TIO Stadium in oppressive heat.
Cleary landed a golden-point field goal in 2024 against the Dolphins to secure a 28-26 win and he was their nemesis again.
"In a long season you win different ways but that one was pretty special," Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
"At 22-18 (down) we had everything against us. They were playing well and we had one crack down their end and scored.It says a fair bit about the team and their character that we somehow find a way to win."
The Dolphins came back from an 18-0 deficit at halftime to rock the competition leaders and lead 22-18.
"I am really proud," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
"I just loved the way we came out in the second half and backed ourselves.
"It is hard to take. It hurts when you walk away and don't get what you feel you deserved."
Panthers winger Thomas Jenkins became the first player in premiership history to score try doubles in seven straight games. and took his season tally to 16 tries.
His second try, in the 76th minute, levelled it up at 22-22, but Cleary was unable to land the sideline conversion.
Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa missed a long-range 83rd-minute field-goal attempt, but Cleary did not miss his from right in front.
Kenny, who was in contention for the NSW No.9 jersey, was taken to hospital in the 18th minute after he was injured in a hip-drop tackle by Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima, who was sin-binned.
"We are fearing it is pretty serious," Cleary said of Kenny's injury.
"There was no malice in (the tackle). It was just unfortunate."
The Panthers dominated the first half, with big-name stars Cleary, Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo in the ascendancy and they appeared to be cruising.
The Dolphins, inspired by centre Herbie Farnworth, rocketed back into it with four tries in 15 minutes to take the lead.
The England international conjured up two one-on-one ball steals, the second on Panther winger Brian To'o after the break, which turned the game.
Farnworth weaved his way over for an athletic try.
Dazzling fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow notched a trademark long-range four-pointer, and winger Selwyn Cobbo, who had a wretched first half, bullocked over out wide.
When centre Jake Averillo sliced over, the Dolphins had turned the game on its head.
The defence of the Dolphins was much improved on their 52-18 loss to Manly before they had a bye. The Panthers applied the blowtorch early in the match.
Cleary sliced through and his reliable partner in havoc Edwards, who threw Cleary the initial pass, backed up to score.
The Panthers made the most of the extra man, with Cleary sending halves partner Blaize Talagi over.
The Dolphins had their chances but errors let them down, despite the best efforts of Farnworth.
Talagi set up try-scoring whiz Jenkins with a pinpoint bomb that the winger leapt high to snaffle and score on the cusp of halftime.
The second half was a humdinger, thanks to the Dolphins' enterprise.
Cleary had the final say, as he so often does.
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