Nathan Cleary Pipped Ethan Strange for Man of the Match Honours
Nathan Cleary narrowly edged out Origin rookie Ethan Strange for the man of the match honours following the Blues’ thrilling come-from-behind victory in Game 1 on Wednesday night. However, this decision sparked a significant debate among NRL legends and fans alike, with many arguing that Strange deserved the top gong.
With first-choice No.6 Mitch Moses ruled out just before the series opener in Sydney, Strange was thrust into a starting halves role for his first taste of Origin football. He wore the No.18 jersey and didn’t disappoint, delivering a standout performance in the 22-20 comeback win over the Maroons. The game was highlighted by Kalyn Ponga’s controversial send-off for Queensland in the second half.
Strange’s performance was nothing short of impressive. He showcased his defensive prowess with a crunching try-saving tackle on Queensland skipper Cameron Munster in the first half. On the attack, he made 22 tackles and ran for 134 metres off 15 carries, including three tackle busts. His physicality and determination were evident throughout the match.
The defining moment of Strange’s debut came in the second half when he created and finished a crucial try to get NSW back into the contest after trailing 20-6 at the break. He put Stephen Crichton into space down the left side before running onto a return ball from the Blues centre to score a stunning long-range try.
“It was awesome,” Strange said after the game about his fairytale moment on Origin debut. “I followed ‘Critter’ [Crichton], he somehow turned around and found me. It was pretty special.”
Despite his outstanding performance, Strange was overlooked for the man of the match honours, which went to Cleary instead. This decision drew criticism from several quarters, including NRL legends Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith, who believed that Strange was the best player on the park.
Andrew Johns, speaking on Nine’s coverage, praised Strange’s performance, saying: “The debut of Ethan Strange, he was a powerhouse. I thought he sparked them down this left side, his running game he was unbelievable on debut. You’re looking at someone who’s going to be playing hopefully 30 Origin games. He’s just made for Origin, he was devastating.”
Cameron Smith echoed these sentiments, stating: “I’m with you (Joey), I think he was the best player on the field. He was the most dangerous ball runner for the Blues the entire night. It’s a wonderful debut considering only 48 hours ago he was thrust into that position.”
Fans on social media also voiced their support for Strange, with many claiming he was “robbed” of the award. Some even suggested that Queensland rookie Sam Walker was unlucky not to receive the gong after a fantastic debut in a losing side.
One fan commented: “Strange robbed.” Another added: “Ethan Strange doing everything to keep NSW in the match. Man of the match – Cleary. These people reward the gloss, not the hard work that gets the gloss.”
Another fan remarked: “Ethan Strange was the best player on the field last night. Cleary played well in patches. The send off changed the whole game.” A fourth fan claimed: “Sam Walker, Ethan Strange, and Cameron Munster were all nine or ten out of ten last night. Nathan Cleary was seven out of ten. Until Ponga’s send off, he was a six out of ten.”
A final comment stated: “Cleary did what any half should do against 12 men and all of a sudden, he’s POTM? Strange was better over 80. The 2 best halves in that game were the 2 debutants.”
