Cleary’s Shift in Role Sparks New Blues Threat Ahead of Origin Showdown
Nathan Cleary might have had the No.7 on his back during Penrith’s 2023 qualifying final against the New Zealand Warriors, but his role on the day told a different story. It was a bright Saturday afternoon in early September when Jarome Luai went down with a shoulder injury, prompting Jack Cogger to step into the starting lineup.
Interestingly, Penrith had already tested this setup a month earlier when Luai missed a game due to illness. Initially, the coaching staff tried Cogger at five-eighth, but it quickly became apparent that he was more suited to the dominant playmaker role. That led to a strategic reshuffle—Cleary moved to second receiver. It wasn’t unfamiliar territory; Cleary had played five-eighth for the Australian Schoolboys alongside Scott Drinkwater and had the adaptability to thrive in either role.
Fast forward to the upcoming State of Origin clash, and Queensland has every reason to be on alert. Cleary is set to partner Mitchell Moses in the NSW halves for the first time—a pairing that has generated plenty of debate. Both players are natural organisers, prefer to defend on the right edge, and thrive with the ball in hand during clutch moments.
Their ability to balance control and creativity will be key. If they can complement each other the way Cleary adjusted in Penrith’s finals campaign, NSW could unleash a dangerous new dynamic in the Origin arena.
