Cleary doesn’t care if masterclass silences doubters
Jasper Bruce |
Nathan Cleary acknowledges his game-one masterclass may not completely silence doubters of his State of Origin record, but the defiant NSW halfback simply does not care.
The Blues erased a 20-0 deficit on Wednesday night and pulled off the biggest comeback in Origin history to take a 1-0 series lead into game two on June 17.
“It felt like a nightmare in the first half and then it felt like a dream,” Cleary said.
“That’s rugby league, that’s why we all love it. Happy to be on the right side of it tonight.”
Kalyn Ponga’s controversial send-off helped the Blues’ case, but Cleary’s attacking nous proved essential in the come-from-behind win.
“I want to stand up in those big moments and be a good teammate and make it a special night for all of us,” said Cleary, named player of the match.
The 28-year-old threaded a grubber kick through the line for second-rower Hudson Young to score the Blues’ first try on the third tackle.
In the second half, Cleary put himself in position to score the Blues’ third four-pointer with a precise 40/20 kick.
He then came up with the game-winning play to seal the most unlikely of comebacks at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Cleary launched a towering bomb up for fullback James Tedesco, who outleapt the Queensland backline and scored the 78th-minute try that levelled the scores.
“I couldn’t believe it, he just juggled it and then I just saw him on the ground, I was like, ‘Holy moly’. An amazing feeling,” Cleary said.
Four-time premiership winner Cleary then slotted a simple conversion to give the Blues their first lead of the night in the final seconds.
Wednesday night marked the closest win of Cleary’s 18-game Origin career, and only his second from the past six matches.
The victory was clearly the finest Origin hour yet for a man so long criticised for his record in the sky blue jersey.
Despite now winning three player-of-the match awards, Cleary has lost all three game-three deciders he has played and has not played all three games of a winning series since 2018.
Cleary was blunt when asked whether he thought the performance would silence his doubters at Origin level.
“I don’t care, really. Honestly,” he said.
“I do this for the people that support me no matter what and are always in my corner.
“That narrative might still be there because at the end of the day, the series isn’t won. There’s still two more games.
“I’m focused on that, I’m focused on being a good teammate, getting the job done for this state and doing the people proud that are always in my corner.”
The decade’s stand-out player at NRL level, Cleary has never been discouraged by his Origin misfires, and the criticism that has come from them.
“Live by the sword, die by the sword. That’s what happens when you wear the No.7 on your back,” he said.
“I was lucky enough some of those moments worked out tonight. In the past they haven’t worked out. But that’s rugby league and that’s why we love it.”
AAP