POST GAME 2026 State of Origin

Big Pete said:
The closest comparison to Cleary is Cronk.

Sure, Melbourne could still win games of footy with Croft and Jacks there but their ability to win premierships made it's way over to Bondi.

Cronk wasn't a highleets reel player but he was a difference maker.

I don't see a lot of Gower in Cleary beyond their toughness. I can see some Kimmorley, but I don't think Nathan has the rough edges to his game that Kimmorley had. Noddy had a way of over-staying his welcome.
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I was having this conversation and comparing Cronk and Cleary at Origin last night.

I think Cleary is very similar to Stuart and Cronk. Organised and methodical more than an Alf. The Alf type players stand out more at Origin.

Cleary v Cronk v Alf

Try assists- 14-11-17
line breaks-6-5-17
Tackle breaks-52-21-73
Tackles-395-321-548
Av runs-6.7-4.5-8.3
Forced dropouts-10-12-25
tries-3-3-10
Av kick metres-407-230-195

Langer 34 games/17 wins/50%
Cronk 22 games/16 wins/72%
Cleary 19 games/9 wins/47%

Cleary has Cronk for a lot of areas but winning.
 
_wwong said:
Would he coach the broncos though
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We should at least ask the question.
Timing would fit as I think he only has one more year as origin coach (same as madge with us) so he could start in 2028.
The big problem would be his horse breeding farm. Relocating that from Victoria to somewhere up here would be a big job and we would have to chip in to help with that.
Chances of it all coming together are low but potential benefits would be huge.
 
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Fernando said:
If NSW bring in Turbo, Latrell, Crichton, Hamoule, Brailey and Martin he's got no excuses.
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Turbo and Latrell are my biggest worry for game 3. Playing fit, those 2 can nearly win the game themselves.
 
If NSW name Murray at 13 and Brailey or Api at 9 then QLD are in for a struggle imo.

I think those 2 positions are key. Add Haumole and Trell into the mix and they should be equal favourites.

Although NSW have a lot more faith in Latrell than he deserves, he was terrible my last memory of him in Origin, but NSW think he's like Greg Inglis, when he's just... not.
 
Wolfie said:
Thats where i'm at. Its repeated series and having repeated big moments in Origin games that makes you a player thats dominating Origin. I dont think Johns did that either tbf.
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I don't remember if there were multiple series, but there was at least one where he singlehandedly ripped QLD a new one. I'll never forget it, I was dating a Blues supporter at the time and it was completely ****ing miserable lol. We just got totally smoked.

My memory is of a few years in those early 00's where Qld just weren't even in games and Johns was terrorising them. I'm probably wrong though, he didn't have a long Origin career, it just felt that way because of the results!
 
LittleDavey said:
I don't remember if there were multiple series, but there was at least one where he singlehandedly ripped QLD a new one. I'll never forget it, I was dating a Blues supporter at the time and it was completely ****ing miserable lol. We just got totally smoked.

My memory is of a few years in those early 00's where Qld just weren't even in games and Johns was terrorising them. I'm probably wrong though, he didn't have a long Origin career, it just felt that way because of the results!
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The knock was that Joey was always good for one great game but he could never maintain it across a series.

It wasn't until 2003 and even so Queensland spoiled the party at Suncorp in the dead rubber.

Of course in typical NSW fashion they made a spectacle of it. I'm not sure if you remember but Joey's form wasn't crash-hot going into the game. So they ran with this big story about him and Gus having a falling out and even had a photo shoot of Gus 'privately' pulling Joey aside.

Of course NSW win Game I. Was a great game of footy, Queensland could have won it had injuries been kinder but credit where it was due.

Then Game II Queensland were never in it.

He put the whole criticism to bed in 05.
 
Yeah, I think Johns went out on a high note in 2005, and that's why he's remembered so well. Kimmorley was mocked for his intercept and then Johns went out in games 2 and 3 and put on an absolute masterclass. He didn't follow it up with a stinker series afterwards, people just remember the last series.
The things you can learn from Seinfeld, you can use them anywhere.

Im Out George Costanza GIF
 
Alec said:
Yeah, I think Johns went out on a high note in 2005, and that's why he's remembered so well. Kimmorley was mocked for his intercept and then Johns went out in games 2 and 3 and put on an absolute masterclass. He didn't follow it up with a stinker series afterwards, people just remember the last series.
The things you can learn from Seinfeld, you can use them anywhere.

Im Out George Costanza GIF
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Reynolds and Hunt didn’t watch Seinfeld.
 
How many more chances does Cleary need to try and prove he belongs at Origin level?

‘20, ‘22, ‘25, he’s shit the bed in each. He’s a very structured half that struggles to adapt when that structured style isn’t working. NSW literally base their whole game plan around him and Yeo and he still can’t dominate at this level.

He’s very much a rocks and diamonds half outside the Penrith system.
 
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