State of Origin 2020: Nathan Cleary hits back at Andrew Johns
At the start of the season, Nathan Cleary would have struggled to deal with Andrew Johns’ call to sack him for Origin II. Not anymore.
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Nathan Cleary strolled across Morry Breen Oval on Monday and, naturally, straight into questions about Andrew Johns wanting him dumped from the NSW No.7 jersey.
To which the state’s most debated leaguie says what?
“I didn’t even know,” Cleary shrugged of calls for his axing. “But thanks for telling me”.
But c’mon Nath, you heard, right?
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Especially given that in the five days since NSW lost that unlosable Origin opener in Adelaide, all anyone has talked about is what the eighth Immortal offered up afterwards.
Specifically, that you should be punted.
A take one of rugby league’s greatest minds arrived at – and with a considered argument, too — after initially calling for your halves partner, Luke Keary, to go during his Channel 9 commentary.
As far as stories go, it’s the only one in rugby league right now.
That, and Second Chance King, Cody Walker.
“But I actually hadn’t (heard),” Cleary insisted of the calls for his axing.
“A few people said the other day about some outside noise … but I hadn’t really heard it.”
Yet regardless of how much Cleary does or doesn’t know about Johns’ calls for his dumping, the halfback stresses no amount of “outside noise” — from 008, Keyboard Keith or anyone else with an opinion — will impact his preparation for Origin II on Wednesday night.
A truth which follows the halfback opening up to News Corp in September about his battles with FOPO – or Fear Of Other People’s Opinions – and the year of work he has already put into combating it.
Once, Cleary would have struggled with Joey’s appraisal.
Yet just as the reigning Dally M halfback is always the last man to leave the Panthers training field – and was again this particular Monday for NSW – so now he also approaches ‘mental training’ with a similar ethic.
Apart from working closely with Panthers High Performance manager Hayden Knowles, who also holds the same job with NSW, Clearly has also undertaken a FOPO course run by Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
Asked if the ongoing training had him better prepared for all the chatter surrounding the Blues No.7 role than, say, this time last year, or even six months ago, he continued: “Definitely.
“Just the fact that I haven’t looked into it too much or even heard much has been good.
“I realise there’s no point dwelling on what happened in the past, or what people are thinking, or their opinions.
“I’m only focused on what I can do.”
So as for Johns’ suggestion that the Panthers No.7 struggled to create under pressure, and failed to grab the game by the throat?
“When it comes from Joey, it’s coming from the top,” Cleary continued.
“And as Luke Keary said the other day (the morning after Origin I, following Johns’ initial assessment), it’s coming from a good place.
“Trying to get NSW where we need to be.
“So it’s down to me now.
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“I have to take ownership of this team.”
Apart from his own mental game, Cleary revealed the entire Blues squad has taken to working this series out of a Gratefulness Diary – where every day players jot down three things they are thankful for.
The playmaker added his preparations for Origin II had also been bolstered by Blues coach Brad Fittler giving him the vice captaincy gig.
“It’s a great honour and (gives me) the opportunity to step up now and take ownership of the team,” Cleary said.
“I think a lot of the decision had to do with the fact I’m halfback, so it gives me confidence and that extra incentive to find my voice and be the leader on the field.”
Asked if he had that voice in Origin I, Cleary continued: “To be honest I didn’t do enough, which is what found us in a few sticky situations.
“That’s on me.
“I need to stand up and take ownership of what I’m doing.
“I’m surrounded by great players here but they do need direction and that’s what I have to do as halfback of this team.”