Luke Keary shines for Roosters to remind Brad Fittler of NSW State of Origin claims
COOPER Cronk dominated his showdown with Mitchell Pearce, but the performance of his Roosters halves partner was equally breathtaking.
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CROSS your fingers, Freddy.
Brad Fittler just needs Luke Keary not to get injured between now and State of Origin.
With Nathan Cleary expected to be no chance being fit in time for Origin I after injuring his knee on Friday night, Keary last night stood up and showed again what a wonderful footballer he really is.
On the night Cooper Cronk dominated his showdown with Mitchell Pearce, Keary’s performance was equally breathtaking.
Last week the 26-year-old was sensational in his return from a busted jaw.
On Sunday night he took that and raised it to the next level.
“He is not going to die wondering, Luke,” Trent Robinson said, when asked about the courage Keary has shown to go so hard so soon after returning from his injury.
“Every game he has ever played for us, he has really gone after the game.
“I thought he was outstanding tonight and I think he can improve also.
“He knows that, we talked about it straight after game.
“There was some stuff that he did that was really top end, high class.
“And there was some things that he did that he wants to improve on.”
It’s a scary thought for the Roosters’ opponents to think how much better his combination with Cronk and James Tedesco will get from here.
With Cronk pulling the strings, Keary played a hand in all the Roosters’ first-half tries.
Keary threw a great ball for Latrell Mitchell’s opening touchdown and then with speed and strength he crashed through Brock Lamb for the second.
But it was his play for the third try that had everyone applauding, including Fittler’s NSW selection advisor Greg Alexander in Fox League commentary.
Chasing through on a clever Cronk kick, Keary collected the ball at full speed and in mid-air miraculously offloaded to Victor Radley for the season’s most spectacular try.
On social media Balmain legend Garry Jack declared straight up: “If NSW want a halfback Luke Keary is the man”.
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If NSW want a halfback Luke Keary is the man.
— Garry Jack (@jimmyjack244) March 25, 2018
Fittler has maintained he doesn’t want to enter the debate until it’s time to sit down and pick his team because he knows too much can happen in relation to injury and form.
We saw why again with Cleary this weekend.
But Keary’s form has been outstanding since the moment he arrived at the Roosters.
He was their best and most consistent last year after moving across from Souths.
And the way he has started 2018 indicates his confidence and game has gone to the next level.
Remember, this is only two games back from a broken jaw.
If Fittler was picking his team tomorrow … well, just cross your fingers, Freddy
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