Blues Origin greats liken Nathan Cleary to Steve Mortimer, captain of the legendery 1985 side

NEW South Wales legends have hailed Nathan Cleary as the man to embody the spirit of the historic 1985 Blues that earned the state’s first Origin series victory.

Frizell: 'There is a genuine hatred' Nathan Cleary during NSW State of Origin training ahead of Game 1, at Coogee Oval Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

NATHAN Cleary has been dubbed the unofficial “leader” of the NSW Origin side, with State greats even likening him to Blues legend Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer.

In a huge boost for Cleary on the eve of his Origin debut, Blues greats like Benny Elias, Steve Roach, even Mortimer himself have all backed the Penrith young gun to take charge against Queensland at the MCG next Wednesday night.

Better, a host of 1985 Blues Old Boys — the first team to win a series against Queensland — have spoken about seeing at a host of similarities between their own history-making side and the current mob.

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Asked about coach Brad Fittler’s 2018 outfit, Elias said it brought back memories from 33 years ago, when the Blues upset Queensland and Lang Park and then the SCG.

And while the Balmain favourite said there would only ever be one ‘Turvey’ Mortimer, he insisted Cleary, even at 20, looked ready to prove himself a similar leader of this team.

“I see the same qualities in Nathan Cleary that I saw in Turvey, definitely,” says Elias, who wore No. 9 for the inaugural champions.

“I was fortunate enough to speak with Nathan on Monday night at Star City, after the team announcement, and what a wonderful young man he is.

“Even in a short space of time, you could just tell he’s going to be a real leader for this Blues team. A really strong presence.

Mortimer captained the Blues to their first series win in 1985.

“Actually, what we had in ‘85, it was in the air on Monday night.

“It’s something you can’t buy. You can’t teach or even train it into a team.

“But I believe it’s really there within this team”

Parramatta great Peter Wynn, who was Man of the Match in the first game of the ‘85 series, agreed.

“I really like this team Brad Fittler’s selected,” he said. “Like us, they have the chance to go and do something very special, end a Queensland run.

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“And you can tell they understand that.

“So there are definitely similarities. (Laughs) Although we did our camp at the Camperdown TraveLodge … it’s a fair way from Bondi.”

Roach, meanwhile, was another who backed the new look Blues.

The Kangaroo great has not only watched plenty of Cleary in his role as a Fox Sports commentator, but will also help ready him for Origin as part of the Blues support staff.

Cleary will make his Origin debut at the tender age of 20.

“This is an exciting time for NSW,” Blocker said. “And if you’re going to bring in a debutant, you may as well bring in 11”.

Elsewhere, Mortimer also threw his support behind Cleary, saying the rising Penrith playmaker appeared custom-made to handle the pressure of an Origin debut. Turvey also suggested the team, while largely inexperienced, boasted a number of obvious leaders including Cleary and captain Boyd Cordner.

“I love the decision to put Nathan Cleary at halfback,” Mortimer said. “He’s a terrific young player.

“And Boyd Cordner, geez, he’s a great captain too.

“One of those blokes whose heart in right in it for NSW. I’m also really happy to see Brad Fittler taking charge of NSW, I think Freddy will be a great coach and is just a terrific fella.”

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