EXCLUSIVE: Andrew Johns reveals three-word text from Nathan Cleary as young rival tore Bunnies to shreds
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As Isaiya Katoa ran rings around the Rabbitohs last weekend, Andrew Johns sat back in awe.
Then after taking a breath and composing himself, he shot a text to Nathan Cleary.
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"Katoa" was his simple message.
Cleary replied, "on another planet".
It's part of regular communication between two of NSW's best ever halves, and the young Dolphins No.7 is a consistent topic.
Nathan Cleary and Andrew Johns. Getty/Nine
Now Cleary and Katoa are in State of Origin camp together, with the latter part of an extended squad. When Katoa was named, Johns shot a message straight to Cleary.
"Put an arm around this bloke, because when you're finished he's the next one in," Johns wrote, as he revealed on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.
Johns went on to explain the importance Cleary's influence will have on Katoa during camp.
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The 21-year-old is considered a superstar already, and is already in line to replace Cleary at representative level when the time is right.
"It's important that he follows Nathan everywhere and he sees how he prepares, how he prepares to train, how he prepares to go into team meetings, what he says in the team meetings, what he does in a warm-up, the way he talks to his players out on the field when they're training. Everything," Johns said of Origin camp this week.
Isaiya Katoa of the Dolphins runs with the ball. Getty
"I hope Izzy is shadowing Nathan just to see (what he does). It's going to be his team soon ... when he comes in, whenever it is, in three or four years time we need him going 'this is my team', which is exciting."
When Katoa does actually become the Blues halfback is an interesting sub-plot.
At 21, he's six years younger than Cleary. When Cleary was in doubt for Origin III, there was speculation he'd be the replacement.
As for the five-eighth spot, Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai won't be giving that up any time soon.
When Cleary does vacate the No.7 jersey is anyone's guess, especially considering the scuttlebutt around his potential rugby union switch. He is contracted until the end of 2027.
But then there's Moses, who has been brilliant when replacing Cleary at No.7.
Either way, when the day does come, NSW won't be left wanting.
