State of Origin 2021: Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco – the Blues leaders who don’t say boo

Halfback Nathan Cleary and captain James Tedesco run the show at NSW. They’re both quiet blokes … until kick-off.

James Tedesco and Nathan Cleary run the show for NSW. The captain, the playmaker. The oddity is that the Blues’ most authoritative figures are as quiet as a couple of church mice. They’re inclined more to nudges, winks and whispers than rousing Churchillian speeches.

Coach Brad Fittler’s squad was having a fine old time at training the other day. Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell and Jarome Luai and pretty much all of them were hooting and hollering and making a heck of a racket.

No matter what happened, the Blues players all shouted, “Love it, love it, love it!”.

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Someone gave a neat pass. Love it, love it, love it! There was a drill where three defenders bolted 40m to trap a ball returner in-goal. The chorus started again. Love it, love it, love it! It was a full-throttle, high-decibel session, rather enjoyable viewing, but what really stood out was the team’s leaders being the most silent of the lot.

When something needed to be said, Tedesco and/or Cleary walked to a teammate and said it rather quietly, face-to-face. Given halfbacks are normally complete pests who never shut up, and given Origin captains are usually no strangers to laying down the law, Tedesco and Cleary were impeccably polite holders of power.

“I guess me and him are pretty similar like that,” Tedesco said. “We’re both pretty quiet. That’s just his nature and it’s mine, too. Just how we are as people. But you don’t have to be loud off the field to have your voice heard on the field.

“We both do a lot of talking in a game of footy, believe me. That’s when you find your voice. You talk plenty on the field before you can go back to being yourself after the game. A lot of players are like that.

NSW captain James Tedesco is a quiet presence at Blues training Picture: Tim Hunter.

“They’re quiet guys but the competitive nature kicks in and they’re as loud as it gets the minute a game starts. Me and Nathan aren’t quiet on the field, believe me. Nathan knows he’s the halfback and the leader of the team. He takes control and guides us around with a whole lot of talking.” 

Cleary was only 20 when he debuted for the Blues in 2018. There’s previously been a sense that he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the reins he received with the No.7 jumper. In his rookie year, I reckon he spent most training sessions trying to get nods of approval from coach Fittler and Andrew Johns. This year there’s been a more assured air, a quietly commanding presence, no doubt helped by the Blues being stacked with Cleary’s Panthers clubmates.

“He’s still very young but he’s the halfback so his job has always been to lead us around. That’s a pretty daunting task for new players but in the last few years he’s really matured and grown as a player and a leader. He started so young that he’s got a lot of Origin experience by now. That’s invaluable to him and us. I think he really feels comfortable here now. You see how much he takes control of the Panthers and I think you’re going to see him do the same with us. It’s actually been really cool to see him grow into the player he has become. He’s going to be here for a long time.” 

Players trot off the park after Blues’ training runs while Cleary sticks around for half an hour or so of goalkicking. The team bus can be full and waiting to go, but delayed because Cleary is still doing his drills.

Nathan Cleary leads by example with the NSW Blues Picture: Getty Images

“He’s always had the same work ethic,” Tedesco says. “He works hard. Always. He’s always staying back after training. This year I really feel like he’s brought into Origin camp all the confidence he has for the Panthers.

“When you have an attitude like his, you’re going to end up getting the rewards, I have no doubt about that for him. He’s only lost a few club games in the last two years. He has that winning mentality from the moment he arrives and all he wants to do is rip in.

“It’s the same with all the Penrith boys. Hopefully it will be dry and fast in Townsville, compared to what Melbourne would have been like, so I think that will suit our footy. There’s an extra game in Queensland this year, but that’s all right. We’ll just have to beat them twice up there.”