Nathan Cleary or Cameron Munster put their legacies on the line in Origin III

For all of their achievements so far, Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster have been playing in the shadows of greatness – in a little over two weeks one man will claim the spotlight to himself, writes BRENT READ.

Time to stand up. Time to own Origin.

Cameron Munster did it for Queensland to level the series in Perth and has the chance to cement his stature as an Origin legend if he can steer the Maroons to victory at Accor Stadium in a couple of weeks.

For NSW, this is Nathan Cleary’s time.

He was limited by a groin twinge in Perth and it showed. Cleary is now batting at 50 per cent in the Origin arena – 16 games, eight wins, eight losses.

He has been involved in three series wins but the question still lingers over whether he has owned Origin. He can end the debate once and for all in a few weeks on home soil.

Nathan Cleary and Cameron Munster. Artwork: Scott 'Boo' Bailey

It’s a place he knows only too well given he has won four grand finals at the venue with Penrith. The big stage has been his. Any demons were exorcised a long time ago.

If there has been a lingering concern, it has been in the Origin arena.

Yes, he has played well for the Blues. But has he really owned it? Has he put his team on his shoulders and dragged them over the line?

This is his chance. He just needs to emerge from the next fortnight unscathed, pull on a sky blue jersey and dominate at Accor Stadium.

The Blues’ hopes of welcoming Laurie Daley back to Origin with a series win are likely to depend on it because you just know Munster will be up for it.

His performance in Perth has the potential to be career-defining.

Coach Billy Slater surprised some with his decision to hand Munster the captaincy, but his display justified a contentious call.

Munster led and the Maroons followed. He showed a level of maturity that many no doubt questioned was in his kit bag.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was once asked to compare his style to that of ex-Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger.

“I think he (Arsene Wenger) likes having the ball, playing football, passes… it’s like an orchestra,” said Klopp when he was at Borussia Dortmund.

“But it’s a silent song, I like heavy metal more.” Munster is Klopp in this story. He is loud and loquacious. He loves the big stage. The bigger, the better. He thrives on it.

So does Cleary, but in a more introverted way.

He has a touch of Wenger about him – often it is a silent song. The old death by a thousand cuts. Just as effective, only not always as scene stealing.

This is his time to dictate the outcome of the series.

He has carried Penrith on his shoulders for years now and he has the chance to do the same for the Blues before a full house at Accor Stadium.

The difficult thing for both Munster or Cleary is they walk in the shadow of giants. Comparisons are inevitable when it comes to Origin. For Munster it has always been Wally Lewis. For Cleary, it is most often Andrew Johns.

The fact the comparisons are even drawn shows how highly they are regarded in the code. They are now set to feature in a high-stakes decider.

NSW supporters have been quick to blame referee Ashley Klein for their loss in Perth.

There have been scurrilous accusations amid leaks about penalties given and penalties missed. Klein had a shocker in the eyes of Blues fans in Origin II.

Mind you, Queensland supporters will argue the same thing about Origin I. The hope is that the referee will have no impact in Origin III. Let the players decide it.

Munster and Cleary will be the key figures in the two sides. In just over a fortnight, one will emerge from the shadows.

* * * * *

Anthony Seibold (R) has backed Daly Cherry-Evans publicly. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Anthony Seibold is staring down the barrel of a crucial two week period in his coaching tenure. It’s not quite make or break, but the pressure will only intensify if the Sea Eagles can’t turn things around, and turn them around quickly.

Seibold is the bloke in the crosshairs because he is the coach. but he shouldn’t be the only significant figure on Sydney’s northern beaches feeling the pinch.

He has apparently had some tough conversations behind closed doors this week, but in public he has refused to throw his players under the bus.

Instead, he has backed the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans to the hilt.

Cherry-Evans has had his share of critics since announcing his decision to leave at the end of the season – this columnist among them – but Seibold has been rock solid.

He has avoided being publicly critical of his skipper or his decision to depart.

He has resisted calls to remove the captaincy. He has been overly positive when it comes to discussions over his captain’s form.

He has gone to great lengths to stress that Manly’s woes aren’t related to Cherry-Evans and his decision to depart. Then there’s the Trbojevic boys – Tom and Jake Trbojevic.

(L-R) Manly royalty Tom Trbojevic and brother Jake. Picture: Getty Images

The brothers are royalty on Sydney’s northern beaches and justifiably so. They have given their lives to Manly and been rewarded for it.

Still, it’s never been about money for the Trbojevic boys.

Their love for Manly has been unconditional, but form and injury are now threatening to test the relationship, particularly with contract negotiations on the horizon.

Seibold has been loyal to both. But their difficulties, along with the Cherry-Evans saga, has been a delicate situation given it involves the three highest-paid players at the club.

Throw in the long-term injury to prop Taniela Paseka and you could argue Seibold has done well to keep things on track for as long as he has.

The bye has come at an opportune time. It’s a chance for the club to reset, for the coach to take stock and for the players to look within.

The Sea Eagles needed a circuit-breaker. Hopefully when they return to face the Wests Tigers next week, Manly’s three big guns can find what made them so great to start with.

Ultimately, they owe Seibold as much as he owes them.