How can anyone say that the half back that has led his side to 4 straight grandfinal wins and one of them almost single handedly cannot play Origin Football.
Up until last night he had played 16 games witha 50% win record. He doesn't need to be defended as the best player in the world (I am no Cleary fan as a person) his record proves he is. His coaches for NSW (forget last year he was out) have been pretty ordinary and Meninga at a National level does/did him no service.
It can only be dumb Parramatta fans that would always blame the half back when the forwards provide no platform.
The answer is simple Laurie Daley was completely out of his depth. He coached this side from world beaters in round 1 to nothings in round 3. He just does not get how the modern game has changed since he played. That's a reflection on him and the NSW process, not the game.
His interchange use last night was disgraceful, his understanding of how the game would be refereed was also total naiveity. Klein managed the game in round 2 and now come round 3 just left the game to its own devices. Qld played with lightening play the balls and laid all over the NSW ruck, basically discounting any play the ball speed NSW could garner. They finally woke up to that in the last 20 minutes and guess what, they were pretty even through that period.
Get over it, I'm a NSW supporter and we were completely outsmarted and out coached.
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What I noticed from Game 1 to Games 2 & 3 was that they were targeting Harry Grant in Game 1 and did not do it in the last 2 games which they lost.
Grant was always a threat with his dummy half plays. He was an extra playmaker in that team. I
Grant was totally controlled in Game 1. Just wondering why NSW did not continue with this tactic of tiring out Grant.
Cleary builds pressure . Thats how he plays. He will grind with you for 80 mins if he has to ...asking Questions with his kicking game, inside passes, running game and the way he dominates field position. He is elite.
In my opinion the elite Origin players sustain efforts longer , can constantly pressure through their defence and are the best of the best.. theres no rookies or overpaid slow forwards to expose.. you have to attack the game. To me that seems a simple way of looking at where there is some disconnect between his club dominance and his rep footy. He cant build up to chances at Origin .. they come and you have to take them. He also has less time withi his kicking game and teams can absorb what hes throwing at them for longer.
Munster ust goes after the game for 80 minutes . Hes always looking for ways to create opportunities. Cleary is a great player and if you surround him with the effort Qld had last night theres no reason he shouldnt be able to get the result but no doubt his style isn't as dominant at rep level as NRL.
Wel said Snottie, I think your explanation is probably one of the best put together reasons that has been put forward.
I actually wonder if young Cleary doesn't have the reasons himself. He is a very studious footballer that analyses to the umpteenth degree.....I will be surprised if he doesn't work it out.
One final thing, we are seeing some players suffering "burnout"" Tino, Dyllan Brown a few others who someone can remind me about and I wonder if Cleary is not potentially in the same bracket....a common theory is they all have had very serious injuries in recent tmes.....is it taking longer to recover or is it burnout?
Some Penrith players have probably played a seasons more footy than the rest of the comp.
I just think from the outside looking in Cleary is still finding his way at Origin level. As crazy as that sounds for a bloke with 4 comps in his bag his side is playing on the front foot every week and what he does at club level is unbelievably successful. Origin is a different game , he'll probably become a better ball player like all halves seem to be in their 30s. Choose the right 6 and players around him and Cleary won't be the one losing you series. I think Moses can be the answer but found it strange how Moses owned the stage last year and this year they put him straight back to second fiddle.
Cleary shouldve fit into the winning side , not be the centrepiece everything runs through until his time comes back around.
I don't think Cleary is really that interested in playing Origin, the biggest incentive for him is the extra $$$ and a bit more fame if he's able to produce the goods which he hasn't. He's also obviously playing injured. The State of Origin as a spectacle has lost its mojo and it's only the over exaggerated media rubbish and the betting agencies that stop it from sinking.
Good point. If you are in a close game and he has the lead he kicks you to death with his patience.
Its not only that but everything he does asks Questions. His kicking game is so elite at club level he has every kick in the kit bag. Not only that he lands them where they come down in uncomfortable areas , theyre contested or you get drilled by his chasers .. or he's putting it in a spot where your forwards have to get back after just tackling their asses off because hes putting pressure on both sides of the ruck. He is class.. thats his style and its supported by teammates that are discilipined , don't push things and are prepared to stay in the grind.
They keep the ball in play and back their fitness. Eventually it tells. I was super impressed with how long we went with them earlier in the year - our young guys were tested all game and they were working hard . It shows how far they have come since Ryles took over. No one was slacking off on the inside they kept working, their pressures and effort was great and bit by bit Penrith got on top of our young side. It was a Cleary masterclass.
No doubt he is the best 7 in the game at the moment but I think you can make the arguement he's not the best 7 for NSW in 2025 ... thats Moses.. but no doubt over the next 3 or 4 years Cleary will get there. Love to see Moses at 7 and Cleary 6 next year but they seem all in on Cleary and have been for years.
Cleary isn't the best 7 in the game in my opinion.
Where was Munster in game 1.
Imo in any team sport players have jobs it's the incidental stuff that is being missed here.
You have a look what Loiero Tino and co what they were doing early in the game hitting the ball up which Collins did carried on in his stint.The maroons controlled the middle of the park got quick play the balls continually moved the point of attack and outplayed there opposites of which Grant Munster and Deardon profited off of during the game it backed off any sought of linespeed NSW could have got.So why aren't we talking about the poor or average performances of Yeo Haas and co but yet hear we are banging on about Cleary who is expected to Clark kent phone box put the S suit on and win the game by himself.I mean this is just strawman stuff.
This is where the game was one and lost and the platform set.I dislike when commentary is put foward about certain players in an individual sense when the workers are being dismissed.
NSW missed this game tactically and the effort just hasn't been there the last 2 games.2nd half of game 2 was a pipe dream for the blues.They lost there way after game 1.Blues were like a light switch pretending they could just reach back turn it back on when they were down they couldn't..You put Cleary behind that Queensland pack and you don't think he'd have had the influence Grant Munster or Deardon would have had.
Cleary is every bit a SoO great and it's just deer in the headlights commentary saying this and that about him.Basically the narrative is the same after every loss the singular one when in all effect NSW as a team we're just poor the last 3 halves of the last 2 games.
Sure players can go missing from time to time, especially when your team is getting dominated, but the difference is Clearly has never made his mark in Origin. At all. If it was his first series, you could explain it with the reasons you mentioned, but he has been the NSW half back for 7 years now. The stats speak for themselves.
Cleary - 16 played. 5 try assists.
Moses - 6 played. 6 try assists.
It's weird too because the 2023 grand finals shows that he does have it in him to grab the game in big moments - but just can't do it at Origin.
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