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.
Replies
Shane said: "The reason QLD won was in the first game NSW won off the back of aggressive defense, game three QLD done what NSW did in game one and the forwards didn't turn up for NSW or most of the other players in these games you have to get in the oppositions face with aggressive defense, QLD did and NSW didn't which stops the halfs effectiveness."
Poppa said: what he just said.
Daz said :Who could look at games 2 and 3 this year and conclude anything other than Cleary was a misfiring passenger for most of those two games?
Poppa said: I could!!! Its bloody easy!
The reason QLD won was in the first game NSW won off the back of aggressive defense, game three QLD done what NSW did in game one and the forwards didn't turn up for NSW or most of the other players in these games you have to get in the oppersitions face with aggressive defense, QLD did and NSW didn't which stops the halfs effectiveness.
Cannot believe some people are not holding Cleary accountable. Yes, he was not the only bad player but go look at the statistics. We actually dominated the stats. We ran for more meters. Had better field position. A quicker play the ball speed. etc just go look.
Cleary and Yeo played their robotic Panthers like play style which work in the NRL. However, in origin your versing 17 elite players in a high intensity game. We have done so well in origin when Yeo plays a simple game. Tuck it under his arm and play prop. The moment he starts passing, our attack becomes clueless. Maroons had a clear plan to counter our attack. Line speed and jamming in. Yet Yeo and Cleary still decided to hold the ball so long in the middle before passing giving our players on the outside no time with the ball. It took Luai till the 80th minute to kick the ball to counter the rushing defensive line. This is something in a rookie textbook. Yet Cleary who is the best halfback and 4time premiership halfback could not do that?? Stop makin excuses for him. It is not his first game of origin or his first decider. He took the blame himself because he knows his performance played a big part in the result. His kicking game was shit as fuck. Gettign tackled on the last. Cleary is rattled andneeds to redfine his attack in origin. He is a hard worker so probably will fix this. So a big worry for every NRL team bar panthers.
Yes Daley tactics and team selections were horrible too. Should have never been in the coach again. How the fuck an origin team does not get up in a decider at home is insane. Go watch the first hit up of the game and see how soft they are on Papalii. No desperation at all in defence like QLD. How the fuck is Max King an origin forward and a starting forward too???? Utoikamanu actually had a good game. Young just used shit this game. Yeo 80minutes? Watson limited minute (play at lock)?
The big concern means that Moses willplay orign next year
Problem is EA with stats is do they give you a stat for effort do they give you a coaching stat for making big calls and selections.
Cleary didn't play well but I find the commentary behind it is very flawed.
It starts off the park with regards to the blues all Clearywas doing in the interviews was being professional owning a result being the fall guy.
Im still picking him next year purely because I don't believe there's better 7 in available for NSW.
If Queensland lost the series and Cleary was there 7 they'd stick for sure but yet here we are.
I swear people do not want to give Moses credit for what he has done in origin. If he is fit and good form next year Moses is the 7. Cleary or Luai can be the 6.
Difference is QLD has the worse team on paper and a halfback who is not even a 7 for his club. He got outplayed. Imagine telling people that a kicking game of Munster and Dearden won an origin game😂😂😂 would be one of the worst kicking halves in origin history and they outplayed Luai and Cleary
I agree that Cleary is the fall guy. Cause really Daley with his gameplan and team selection was horrible. But my point is Cleary is still a big contributor to the loss.
Do you really think the NSW selectors will put Moses in front of Cleary as the 7 EA?. Personally I don't think they will. Cleary, as per usual, will be the 1st player picked.
I think football is football and like Mutts mentioned earlier these games are won in the middle of the park.The game hasn't changed stats regardless.When we are pinning it on one person or associating more blame to me is flawed also.
If we have a look at the blues starts in games 2 and 3 that's what cost them not what Cleary did or didn't do.Shit if your taking that stance why aren't we throwing Lomax under the bus he missed how many kicks in game 2 and his key one on one miss was what started the rot last night.
End of the day for me nsw weren't prepared for Queensland in games 2 and the decider for me tactically we were out thought and out manoeuvred off the park.If we are pointing fingers I no where I'm pointing first and it isn't at our #7.
I am pointing the finger at Daley. But after Daley Cleary is second. If you want to win the middle, a halfback can help do that. Look at some of the plays he used to get our forwards running onto the ball. Was pure shit and helped matrons get so many players into the tackle.
I agree our starts were shit. No intensity as i have said in an above comment with specific reference to the kick off. Cleary was a big part to our shit start. How many kicks did he take in game 2 and 3 in the first 20min to help establish field position and get into the grind of origin? Got tackled on the last or he wouldn't kick. Yes Luai should have done better with those kicks but it's Clearys team and he needs to run the team better. Go watch game 1 and it was clear that its Cleary's team. Moses was so passive.
Yes we tactically lost the game. But its also the 7's job (with the coach) to be able to have a plan B and adapt to QLD rushing defensive line. Guess what they didn't. Its not like QLD countered every plan we had. We just threw the same shit at them over and over. How did Cleary and Daley the dumb fuck not remember the first 5 min of the game when Critta sit Shibisaski 2 times on his ass. Never tried that rest of the game.
Daley first and than Cleary second were the two biggest contributors to game 3. Yes others were shit I agree but those 2 are the most accountable.
Moses won't play Origin next year
It's not often I disagree with your thoughts Poppa, but in this instance i do.
Cleary is good..very good, and when surrounded by a brilliant system and equally quality players at Penrith he shines bright.
When put amongst the games elite he has never shined, not at Origin, nor for his Country...it could be mental or possibly intestinal fortitude...he doubts himself on the biggest stage.
At club level great forwards make ordinary halfbacks look good, Great halves with ordinary forwad packs still compete and win more than they should.
At the elite level the forwards generally cancel themselves out, they are all great..some just have better days and games than the others......BUT.. the great half leads the forwards, corals them to where they need to be and controls what is coming now and next... that is not Mr Cleary.
Moses, in my mind has shown much more at that level, never overplaying the hand but doing a job.
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