He's followed on the edges by Manu Vatuvei with 3.5:1, Krisnan Inu 3.8:1 and Joel Moon 4.5:1. Halves James Maloney 4.6:1 and Shaun Johnson 3.0:1 have struggled at times.
In contrast, Shaun Berrigan makes 10 tackles to every one missed when he plays in the centres. Kevin Locke has a ratio of just 4.1:1 but has made some spectacular try-saving tackles, sometimes keeping the Warriors in games single-handedly with his determination to haul in an opponent.
Cleary says many tries could have been stopped: "I understand it's not easy; you make split second decisions and the Dragons' outside backs were as good as anyone. Bill [Tupou] made a hash of a grubber kick he should have stopped [for the Darius Boyd try].
"Then Jason Nightingale's try should have been handled better on the left edge. It's too hard to pinpoint everything but in summary, our communication needs to improve out wide. If you haven't got that, you've got next to no chance.
"You need to be able to read the game. It's one thing to make tackles but you've got to have a fair idea of where the ball is going, too. The only plus is you realise quickly what needs to strengthen and how intense you need to be against these good sides."
Captain Simon Mannering is back in the second row for now but has the best tackling record in the centres this season, making 10.7 for every one missed.
"If I had the answers, I'd be the best centre in the competition," Mannering laughs. "It really depends on how good the guys inside and out of you are. It starts with guys getting up off the line to pressure a ball carrier to pass earlier than he wants to or throw a bad pass. It's rarely about individuals one-on-one. Defensive decisions out wide are also more likely to be try-saving or try-causing [than in the middle of the park]."
