State of Origin 2022: Extraordinary video reveals Nathan Cleary’s new landing technique to protect shoulder

Almost 12 months after suffering a serious shoulder injury that threatened to derail his NRL career, Nathan Cleary has revealed the lengths he went to in order to salvage his freakish powers.

Practice makes perfect — even when you’re learning how to fall.

Almost 12 months after suffering a serious shoulder injury that threatened to derail his NRL career, Nathan Cleary’s mission to return to the peak of his powers has been uncovered for the first time.

The road back, ahead of Wednesday night‘s State of Origin opener against Queensland, included late-night training sessions where the NSW halfback spent night after night contorting his body to avoid landing on his surgically repaired right shoulder.

Exclusive footage obtained by The Sunday Telegraph shows Cleary contorting his body to land on his ‘good’ shoulder, time and again.

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Exclusive video footage shows Nathan Cleary contorting his body to land on his ‘good’ shoulder, time and again. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The sessions were as much physical as they were mental, as the 24-year-old taught himself to resist more than two decades of reacting to fall a certain way.

Teaching himself how to fall, Cleary’s diligence and focus reveals a footballer driven to do whatever it takes to remain at his optimum.

The Dally M halfback required shoulder surgery last October to repair a dislocation and labral tear suffered during game two of NSW’s triumphant Origin series.

Cleary bravely managed his shoulder following the series in a bid to successfully lead Penrith to a drought-breaking premiership, beating the Rabbitohs in the grand final.

But in order to minimise further damage, which would put his standing as the best halfback in the game at risk, Cleary worked on a training plan that included simulating moments in matches where he would need to hurl his body into the turf.

Cleary puts his shoulder landing work into practice against South Sydney in round 4. Picture: Supplied

Cleary began the sessions with Penrith physiotherapist Pete Green and former head of high performance Hayden Knowles at a time when the club had been relocated to the Sunshine Coast due to the covid-pandemic late last season.

“At the end of last year, my shoulder was obviously a lot more vulnerable than what it is now,” Cleary said.

“So I made it become muscle memory to fall on my good shoulder.

“I did a lot of work with the physios, just different ways to fall.

“We had an inflatable mat in our hub on the Sunny Coast.

“After some gym sessions I‘d get on there and practice ways to fall.

“I‘d practice pushing a ball dead in-goal or diving on a loose ball.

“The physios were amazing, they put so much work into me and helped me.”

Remarkably, in round four earlier this season against the Rabbitohs, Cleary played in his first game back from shoulder surgery and immediately implemented his new landing technique.

“That first game back, it was weird how it happened exactly how we had trained,” Cleary said.

Nathan Cleary was forced to undergo shoulder surgery after helping Penrith to a premiership. Picture: Instagram.

New South Wales will be hoping halfback Nathan Cleary is at the top of her game in Origin I. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It was a moment where I turned to chase Alex Johnston with an ankle tap.

“I didn’t really think about it and I just fell how I did and it was proof the practice from the year before had worked.’’

Knowles, who has since moved to the Knights but continues to work with Cleary in Origin camp as NSW high-performance manager, said every young athlete could learn from the 24-year-old‘s dedication.

“While other players were having dinner or going to bed, Nathan was in the gym with an air mat learning how to roll,” Knowles said.

“He practiced every scenario of what he would do if he had to save a try, how he would dive to knock a ball dead.

“Pete Green spent a lot of time with Nathan.

“For me, to spend that time with him and just have someone who is so professional around everything, it’s so good to see.

“Every junior footy player should do what he was doing.

“Being back in camp, it reminds you of that level of excellence that you want in every player.

“I’m sure a story like this might be read by another injured player or kids, who can use this as some motivation.’’

Originally published as State of Origin 2022: Extraordinary video reveals Nathan Cleary’s new landing technique to protect shoulder