Cleary sheds haunting asterisk to inspire inconceivable Blues ambush
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Nathan Cleary shed the one asterisk that haunted him for oh so long – the cold, hard reality that he had never “owned” State of Origin – as NSW pulled off a staggering defeat of Queensland in the decider on Wednesday night.
Cleary starred as NSW – written off and ridiculed by everyone bar those in the inner sanctum and the staunchest of Blues supporters – took down Queensland 30-12 at Suncorp Stadium.
Nathan Cleary of the Blues celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first try. Getty Images
For the second time in three years, the Blues have entered the Suncorp Stadium cauldron for a decider and emerged as champions.
In 2024, they conquered one of the most impossible tasks in Australian sport with Mitchell Moses in the No.7 jumper.
On Wednesday night, it was Cleary in the famous Blues No.7 jersey as NSW snatched the Origin shield back.
He capped off his fine performance before a sold-out 52,452-strong crowd by taking out the Wally Lewis Medal, awarded to player of the series.
For all his heroics at NRL level – the playmaking magic that has guided Penrith to four titles – Cleary’s critics insisted he had not yet stamped his authority on the Origin arena.
The statistics were glaring: Cleary had played in three deciders and lost all of them.
He was unavailable for the 2024 decider, won by NSW 14-4, because of a hamstring injury.
But on Wednesday night, the Panthers champion scored two tries, made a crucial strip against Maroons winger Selwyn Cobbo, and put the result beyond doubt with a clutch penalty goal in the 71st minute.
The 28-year-old also nailed five goals from five attempts: four conversions and a penalty goal.
His girlfriend, Matildas superstar Mary Fowler, watched on proud as punch from the Suncorp Stadium stands as the inconceivable unfolded.
In the aftermath, NSW coach Laurie Daley tore shreds off the criticism that had rained down on the Blues in a post-game press conference sure to go down as iconic.
Nathan Cleary after claiming the Wally Lewis Medal, awarded to player of the series. Getty
He took aim at the narrative that the Blues don’t “get” Origin, and hit back at the denunciation of his coaching.
He also launched a wholehearted defence of Cleary.
“What he has done has been remarkable,” Daley said.
“I don’t get why people want to take down champions. I just don’t get it. He is a champion and has done some terrific things.
“Why does he have to do something like he has done for people to go, ‘Oh, he’s not a bad player’.
“I just does my head in.
“He is a legend of the game with the stuff that he has done.”
At full-time, Cleary stood in the middle of Suncorp Stadium, with his hands on his hips and tape wrapped around his head, and soaked up that sweet winning feeling.
The Blues didn’t just beat the Maroons – they destroyed them. At one stage, the underdogs led 18-0.
“It’s unbelievable,” Cleary told Nine’s Allana Ferguson.
“This group of players – they’re just freaks.
“I love playing alongside them. The belief ... When we’re written off, we come together as a group and rally around each other. I’m just pumped. What a team.”
For Cleary’s first try of the night, he stepped off his right to beat Kurt Capewell, swerved, and muscled through Reuben Cotter and Cameron Munster as he barrelled over the line.
For his second try, he popped up on the inside of Mark Nawaqanitawase, icing an opportunity sparked by a bulldozing run and classy offload from Panthers teammate Liam Martin.
NSW had burst out to a 12-0 lead before the half-hour mark – and Cleary was the scorer of both tries.
He then ripped the ball out of Cobbo’s hands as the Maroons flyer took a carry out of yardage. Two plays later, Cameron Murray barged over for the Blues’ third try.
Moses did the bulk of the kicking in the decider. Cleary played second fiddle, yet dominated at the same time.
In Phil Gould’s opinion, the narrative that Cleary had never “owned” Origin was “really lazy and really lame”.
“How many individuals have actually dominated Origin? They might have dominated a game or had a good night, but to actually do it over a long period of time – I only saw one do it, and that was Wally Lewis back in the ’80s,” Gould said on Nine’s post-game show.
“It’s an unfair expectation they put on these playmakers that suddenly they have to dominate Origin to be recognised as an Origin player. He [Cleary] is an outstanding Origin player, he’s a champion footballer.
“This rubbish about dominating Origin – I find that ridiculous.”
