Nathan Cleary has insisted he has never been motivated by silencing his critics, even as his State of Origin masterclass appeared to finally achieve that goal. The Penrith halfback, widely regarded as the NRL's best player, added a hard-earned line to his glittering CV by starring in NSW's 30-12 upset win at Suncorp Stadium in the series decider on Wednesday night.
Cleary's Origin Decider Victory
Cleary, who has won four grand finals, a World Cup and an Ashes series in an 11-year first-grade career, had been winless in three Origin deciders before Wednesday night. However, he broke that drought with a standout performance, scoring two tries and making a crucial strip that led to another try. He was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.
“I don’t ever like losing games and I’ve been in too many deciders that we’ve lost,” Cleary said after the match. “It’s a horrible feeling, so it’s nice to be on the other side of it tonight.”
Comparisons to Grand Final Glory
Cleary likened the feeling of finally winning a decider to clinching grand final glory with the Penrith Panthers. “It’s pretty similar, being able to achieve something like this, something that I’ve been sought after for such a long time in and amongst this group,” he said. “We kind of were written off so it’s nice to overcome that and just galvanise this group and enjoy it. It’s pretty similar to a grand final.”
Cleary on Silencing Doubters
When asked if he felt he had finally silenced his doubters, Cleary was introspective. “I don’t know, we got the win, so I guess so, but that’s not what motivates me,” he said. “I like doing it for the people that have always been in my corner, always there to support. It’s not about those people that wrote me off, or whatever. They can say whatever they want but I’ll enjoy this moment with those that are close to me.”
After the game, Cleary immediately found his girlfriend, Matildas star Mary Fowler, and gave her a huge embrace.
Future Challenges
Cleary seemingly has little left to achieve in the NRL, with a maiden Dally M Medal also on the cards amid a sparkling season for Penrith. But the 28-year-old said there would always be more challenges to overcome. “That’s what drives me every day, to get the most out of my potential. Rugby league’s a game, you never complete it, there’s always areas you can get better at,” he said. “There’s always games where you play bad and then you play good and it’s up and down but it’s what keeps bringing us back. I want to keep riding that journey.”
