State of Origin 2020: Luke Keary to play ‘second-fiddle’ to Nathan Cleary for NSW Blues
Luke Keary has won three premierships and played for Australia but he is the Blues ‘rookie’ compared to Nathan Cleary and he is preparing for Cleary to run the show on Wednesday night.
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Luke Keary has won three premierships and played for Australia but he is prepared to play “second-fiddle” and let Nathan Cleary direct the NSW team.
The new-look Blues halves combination hit the training paddock for the first time on Saturday as they prepare for Wednesday’s Origin opener. While Keary is six years Cleary’s senior he is yet to play Origin. Cleary will line up for his sixth Origin on Wednesday and has left Keary little doubt on who will be responsible for the running of the team.
“I know the type of player he is and how he played his best footy this year,” Keary said. “I know why. I’m not going to change his game. I’ve played with players like him before like Pearcey (Mitchell Pearce) and Cooper (Cronk). You play that second-fiddle role and let them take over.
“You have seen this year how dominant he was. He ended up the best halfback in the competition by running the team. That will be the best thing for this team if that’s what he does.”
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Keary will be Cleary’s third halves partner in as many series having played alongside James Maloney and Cody Walker in recent years. Cleary laughed off suggestions he was in fact the senior player of the two having experienced Origin before but said he had long been looking forward to playing alongside the Roosters ace.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the senior one,” Cleary said. “I’m just lucky enough to play a few Origins. Luke has been around the team and he has played in the biggest games there is. Has won a couple of grand finals and played for Australia.
“He is courageous for a little fella and has plenty of strike. He is fast and instinctive. The more I can find space for him the better.
“He knows what it’s about. It’s similar to those big games and he has played plenty of them. He knows how to rise to the occasion.”
The pair will have to fast-track their combination with just two more sessions before Wednesday’s match in Adelaide.
Cleary said they will spend their training free day on Sunday watching video of their only training session and identifying what worked for the pair. They will hit the training paddock again on Monday before Tuesday’s captain’s run.
“It’s about talking to each other and getting the reps in and knowing how each other play,” Cleary said. “We’ve had a chat about how we want to play but it’s a bit hard having not done it.
“We will look back on (Saturday) and work out what worked.”
Keary said the most important part of combinations was “nailing defence”.
“You want to get on the same page with what you’re doing as a team,” Keary said.
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Cleary meanwhile brushed aside any fears of a grand final hangover after showing no ill-effects in his first field session for the Blues. He played down calls for him to be rested for the Origin opener following the heartache grand final loss just last Sunday.
“You don’t need any incentive to get up for an Origin game,” Cleary said. “People would dream to be in the position I’m in and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. I feel good. A bit of a blow out to get the tiredness out. Lucky enough to not have any niggling injuries.”
Originally published as State of Origin 2020: Luke Keary to play ‘second-fiddle’ to Nathan Cleary for NSW Blues