NRL fans froth over NSW Origin jersey as Nathan Cleary detail emerges
Rugby league fans can’t get enough of a new NSW State of Origin reveal that heralds a new era and raises questions about Nathan Cleary.
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NSW’s new State of Origin sponsor will be hoping Nathan Cleary can return to the Blues in 2025 after hitching their wagon to the Panthers superstar.
Last month the NSWRL announced a new five-year partnership with Adidas, which will see the sportswear giant replace Puma as NSW’s “official apparel and footwear partner” across both the men’s and women’s Origin teams.
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New Blues coach Laurie Daley wore an Adidas polo as he was unveiled as Michael Maguire’s replacement and more details of NSW’s new Adidas gear are emerging.
Adidas has released a retro themed range including two different shades of T-shirts and a longsleeved collared jersey that will have NSW league fans feeling very nostalgic.
It remains to be seen if the brand’s three stripes will feature on the playing jersey’s sleeves as has become commonplace in football jerseys and the Indian Test cricket team’s strip.
The Adidas campaign has the tagline “Our Stripes Run Blue” and is aiming to champion grassroots rugby league.
The popular retro_rugba_leeg Instagram account posted: “They have switched to Adidas and I am excited about it.
“It’s this retro jersey that’s doing thangs. I feel like for years, Blues fans have been crying out saying, ‘We just want a simple blue design with a blue collar’. Look at this thing.
“Of course this isn’t the on field jersey, this is just a retro. But I would buy this.”
One fan wrote on social media: “The next 5 Blues Home Jerseys are gonna be goated.”
NSW Origin players Brian To’o and Kirra Dibb showed off the new Adidas range, which is on sale now.
An Adidas NSW match jersey is yet to be released. Both NSW and Queensland’s jerseys have featured the Westpac logo on the front as part of the bank’s partnership with State of Origin.
The new jersey sponsorship is a logical one given NSW and Penrith halfback Cleary is sponsored by Adidas, as is his girlfriend, Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler.
The sight of Cleary lifting the Origin shield with the Adidas logo on his chest would be a dream for the brand, but his return to the NSW line-up is not necessarily a sure thing.
Nicho Hynes was picked at halfback for this year’s series opener, which NSW lost 38-16. Hynes was dropped for Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses, who excelled with a superb kicking display in the wins in Game 2 and Game 3.
The No. 6 jersey appears to be Jarome Luai’s after he made the crucial line break and set up the matchwinning try for Bradman Best in the Origin decider.
So will Cleary be picked for State Origin Game 1 in 2025?
In all likelihood he’s a lock to be selected if fit, but Daley and the Blues will be desperate to squeeze Luai and Moses into the side too, given their performance in this year’s series win.
Cleary is already being labelled a future Immortal for leading the Panthers to four consecutive premierships, but a question mark remains over his efforts in the Origin arena.
The 26-year-old has won three Origin shields but is yet to truly dominate a series for NSW like Andrew Johns did.
The jury is still out over whether Cleary and the style played by Penrith’s spine suits Origin football.
Moses has played at five-eighth before, so there is the possibility he could wear the No. 6 jersey, allowing Cleary to slot in at halfback.
Cleary has played 14 matches for NSW but hasn’t suited up for the Blues since the 2023 season opener, with hamstring injuries ruling him out of the last five Origin games.
“We are proud and excited to announce the partnership between adidas and NSW Rugby League,” said General Manager of adidas Pacific Steve Castledine.
“NSWRL is an iconic Australian brand, and at adidas, we are committed to bringing innovative performance product to both athletes and fans.
“We look forward to a successful future together.”
Originally published as NRL fans froth over NSW Origin jersey as Nathan Cleary detail emerges
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