If Origin is a genuine Kangaroos audition, Nathan Cleary isn’t your No. 7

Nathan Cleary is regarded as the best player in the NRL – but is also the first to admit he is still yet to “own” the Origin stage.

If Wednesday night doubled as a genuine Kangaroos audition, Queenslander Tom Dearden – not Cleary – would be wearing the No. 7 jersey in the end-of-year Ashes series.

Cleary struggled to have an impact on the series decider when his state needed him most, just as he fell short with everything on the line in game three in 2020 and 2022.

Queensland were brilliant with the ball, which gave them the energy to rush up in defence and pressure the Blues all night.

Cleary struggled to come up with creative ways to catch Queensland off guard, and conceded in the sheds talk about him blowing a golden moment to dominate Origin – the last thing missing from his league CV – would persist.

“At the end of the day I haven’t [owned the Origin arena],” said a dejected Cleary, following the 24-12 loss.

Nathan Cleary is wrapped up by Maroons forward Pat Carrigan.Credit: Getty Images

“I’m the harshest marker of myself anyway, so I don’t really think what other people say is out of line, because I probably think that of myself anyway.

“You feel like you let down the boys you play with, and the state, so that’s what hurts the most – I let down myself and [fell short] of my own high standards. It’s frustrating.

“It’s much like a grand final, it’s the biggest game of all, and if you lose, you have to wait a whole another year to get back there. It’s about growing from it, not kicking stones, and trying to find ways to get better.

“The frustrating thing about rugby league is you feel like you’ve learned lessons before, but there are always new lessons to learn. No one rugby league game is ever the same. You have to evolve your game. That’s where I’m at.

“It’s so frustrating, I feel like I’ve been here before, and it’s happened again. It sucks.”

The few times the Blues actually looked like scoring were when they moved the ball left through the hands of Jarome Luai, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To’o midway through the second half.

Andrew Johns owned the Maroons, and so did legendary Maroon Allan Langer. At only 27, Cleary still has time on his side.

Cleary went into game two in Perth with a groin injury after tweaking it at the captain’s run. Ever since, it’s like he has lost about 10m to 15m from his kicks in general play.

Dearden, on the other hand, was in everything for the Maroons. His defence was just as good as his attack.

Whoever coaches Australia will give serious thought to handing the halfback role to the North Queensland Cowboy.

Dearden however, scoffed at such a suggestion, and said: “Nathan Cleary is probably the best player in the game at the moment. I’m fairly sure he’s got a lock on the No.7 jersey.

“It’s not about a single person owning an Origin game. It’s about the team that plays better. Nathan tried his heart out.”

If Cleary is forced to answer questions about his Origin record, what about coach Laurie Daley? He won just one of five series the first time he coached against the greatest Queensland side ever. Daley led 1-0 after Brisbane and had the team on paper that should have gone on to complete a clean sweep.

Daley has another year on his deal to right the wrongs. A year is a long time for Daley. It might feel like even longer for Cleary.

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