Critics Silenced: Nathan Cleary Powers NSW to Historic Fightback
New South Wales halfback Nathan Cleary silenced his critics in spectacular fashion, earning Man of the Match honours after leading the Blues to a remarkable comeback victory over Queensland in the State of Origin series opener. Down 20-0 at one stage, the Blues looked completely outplayed before Cleary stepped up and inspired one of the greatest turnarounds in Origin history.
While debutant Ethan Strange impressed with his fearless performance and James Tedesco delivered the match-winning try, it was Cleary’s composure, leadership, and tactical brilliance that turned the game around. The Panthers superstar produced a crucial 40/20 kick, crossed for an important try, and finished the match with two try assists alongside a massive 651 kicking metres.
The performance served as redemption for Cleary, whose previous Origin displays have often been criticised. Before the game, Blues coach Laurie Daley defended his playmaker against claims that he had not dominated the Origin stage.
“That’s the storyline around Origin and Nathan, but I don’t see it like that,” Daley said before kick-off.
“I think for us to have success, it has to be a team performance. If we’re relying on Nathan Cleary to go out and get man of the match, then we’re kidding ourselves.”
Daley also stressed that Origin success comes from collective effort rather than individual brilliance, praising the entire squad for their resilience and determination.
Meanwhile, social media user Joy Murphy shared a different perspective on the contest, pointing out the impact of player numbers during key stages of the match. According to Murphy, when the game was evenly balanced at 13-on-13, one key player remained on the bench until Kalyn Ponga was sent off, which shifted momentum heavily in favour of the Blues.
Murphy also noted that Queensland had arguably played their best football of the night despite the loss, but the numerical disadvantage in the second half proved too much to overcome as NSW completed an unforgettable comeback victory on Queensland’s home turf.
