Cleary Backs Moses to Shine in Origin II Amidst Fitness Watch
New South Wales halfback Nathan Cleary has expressed confidence in his halves partner, Mitchell Moses, to overcome lingering fitness concerns ahead of the crucial second State of Origin clash. Moses, the captain of the Parramatta Eels, was a notable absentee from the Blues’ initial training session in Wyong on Wednesday, observing from the sidelines as the team shook off the rust.
Moses was a late withdrawal from the series opener, just under 48 hours before kick-off, due to a hamstring injury. Despite his absence, the Blues managed a hard-fought 22-20 victory, with Canberra Raiders’ Ethan Strange stepping up admirably alongside Cleary, who was subsequently named man of the match for his stellar performance.
With Origin II just a week away at Melbourne’s iconic MCG, Moses was engaged in rehabilitation work, separate from the main squad. Another player undergoing a similar cautious approach was Penrith youngster Casey McLean, who is slated to start at centre. McLean sustained a minor ankle issue during the Panthers’ recent win against the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Cleary, however, is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to combine with Moses in the halves for only the second time at the Origin level, provided Moses proves his fitness.
“We’ve only had the one Origin game together and we’ve really been able to strengthen our relationship on and off field,” Cleary remarked. He went on to highlight Moses’ significant contributions. “His leadership and experience goes a long way and his kicking game is elite – I think he has the best kicking game in the game – and his communication takes a lot of pressure off me.”
Regarding the nature of Moses’ injury, Cleary suggested it was not a debilitating issue. “It (a hamstring issue) is not so much a pain thing … I think it was only minor, so I think he’ll be in a good place to play.”
NSW coach Laurie Daley has indicated that he wants to see Moses operating at full capacity by Thursday. The inclusion of the accomplished Parramatta playmaker is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on Cleary, particularly in guiding the team through the crucial end-of-set plays and reducing the Blues’ reliance solely on Cleary for these moments.
Strange Ready to Step Up if Needed
Should Moses be unable to take the field, Cleary is confident that Ethan Strange, who has been named on the bench, is more than capable of filling the void. Strange’s performance in the series opener, despite being informed of his selection with very little notice, was exceptional.
“To be told just about just over 24 hours before the game that he was playing, and to perform the way that he did was incredible,” Cleary stated. “He’s got no fear, and he’s shown that at NRL level and now in Origin and it shows that if something was to happen (to Moses) he (Strange) would be more than ready to go.”
Navigating New Partnerships in the Forward Pack
Beyond adjusting to a familiar halves partner, Cleary also faces the challenge of integrating with a new back-row combination. Newcastle’s Dylan Lucas has been a surprise selection, earning a spot ahead of incumbent Haumole Olakau’atu. This shift will necessitate Cleary rapidly familiarising himself with another forward.
Cleary, who is set to become NSW’s most-capped halfback with his 19th Origin appearance, has experienced playing with the same back-row partners throughout an entire series only twice in his career. He acknowledged the disappointment for Olakau’atu.
“It’s tough for someone like Haumole, he’s been in such amazing form the whole year, but his reaction to it speaks a lot about him as a man,” Cleary commented. He then turned his attention to Lucas’s impact. “The way (Lucas) has been playing this year has been unbelievable. His attacking threat has been obvious, but I think the workload he gets through in defence has gone under the radar.”
