Nathan Cleary’s Joey moment: ‘Make Nathan NSW captain and he’ll own Origin’

At a special lunch on Friday, Ricky Stuart pulled up a seat next to Nathan Cleary. What happened next could change the course of history for NSW, writes DAVID RICCIO.

At a special lunch on Friday for the Ricky Stuart Foundation, where every dollar raised goes towards the building of respite centres for kids and families living with autism, the Raiders coach and former champion playmaker pulled up a seat next to the best halfback in the game, Nathan Cleary.

Across the room of 500 VIP’s at the Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, were premiership winners including Bryan Fletcher, Matty Johns, and Wade Graham.

Test and Origin players including Josh Papalii and Hudson Young. Champion coaches like Ivan Cleary and rugby league immortals such as Mal Meninga and Andrew Johns.

Stuart doesn’t hide his passion well. Neither does he try too.

Former NSW coach Ricky Stuart has called for Nathan Cleary to be named NSW Blues captain.

Which is a good thing if you’re a Blues fan.

With Johns enjoying his entree of pumpkin ravioli just a few seats away, Stuart got up out of his seat and pulled up next to Cleary.

“I had lunch with Nathan on Friday and spoke to him about what I think his responsibilities are for Origin,” Stuart said.

“I’m not going to go into the exact discussion, but what I will say is that in my opinion, we (NSW) can hang our future on Nathan’s maturity as a leader and his ability.

“He’d be my captain.

“Isaah Yeo (current Penrith co-captain and Kangaroos captain) is a world-class leader. We’ve all watched how influential he is in the representative teams that he’s played in.

Andrew Johns and Ricky Stuart has a special relationship at Origin level.

“And Jake Trbojevic led the boys well in last year’s winning Origin series.

“But players like Nathan Cleary don’t come around often.

“We need a bloke who when every person walks through the turnstile with a Blues jumper on, they wear it with pride and belief that this team is being steered by not only the best halfback in the game, but one of the best leaders.”

His own success at the highest-level as a player aside, Stuart speaks from a place of knowing what works.

It was as Blues coach in 2005, that Stuart handed the keys of the NSW team to Johns.

Due to an ACL tear and broken jaw, Johns had played nine games in two seasons when down 1-0 nil in the series to Queensland, Stuart ignored the naysayers by parachuting the Newcastle champion into the no. 7 jersey for game two of the Origin series.

Danny Buderus was the captain, but without a slither of disrespect, this was Johns’ side.

Johns put on a masterclass in 2005. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The outcome now belongs in the history books under the title ‘masterclass’.

Stuart believes Cleary, who missed last year’s series due to injury, should be given the chance by newly-appointed Blues coach Laurie Daley to run, lead and guide NSW to victory this year, just as Johns did all those years ago.

“When I brought Joey (Johns) back into Origin, there was only one man for the job. And there’s only one man for the job now,” Stuart said.

“Origin is different to Test football. Origin is different to NRL.

James Tedesco, Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“It’s less about strategy and more about passion. And we have to build our passion for the entire state around Nathan.

“Nathan is already one of the best halfbacks at club level.

“Now he needs to own Origin and by making him captain, this is the best way to have him own it.”