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They went down to the Storm that year, and Cleary hasn’t taken the award home once during their unprecedented streak of four grand final wins. The former fullback has won the award on one other occasion, while in charge of the Panthers in 2014. Craig Bellamy, who guided Melbourne to an 11th grand final after his side beat the Sharks on Friday night, was another controversial omission. However, Bellamy has won the gong on seven previous occasions. Panthers back-rower Luke Garner was surprised Cleary hadn’t been recognised during the club’s premiership run. “It’s baffling. I don’t quite understand it,” Garner told AAP ahead of Sunday’s preliminary final against Brisbane.
