Like clockwork, Nathan Cleary has once again come under criticism for his representative performances.

This pressure is off the back of him playing the general role in a series whitewash for the Kangaroos.

Despite the 3-0 win, questions have been raised about a supposed inability to make his mark on the Ashes series.

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Former Kangaroos back Josh Morris believes the criticism of Cleary is too harsh.

Nathan Cleary.  Getty

“It’s a really hard one, isn’t it,” he said on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports Radio.

“You go back to when he won the game for Penrith and carried the team and that was one of the all time great grand final performances. I think everyone kind of expects that all the time now.

“He does his job in the team, and when you’re in the Australian team, everyone in that side is a great player and you’ve got to pick and choose when you make your mark. Sometimes he may be the most dominant player in the game and sometimes he may not. I don’t think it means he had a quiet series.”

As the series wore on, it was obvious the game plan revolved around Cameron Munster, who was the most dominant player throughout the three matches along with Reece Walsh and Harry Grant.

Fellow former Kangaroo Bryan Fletcher echoed the sentiments of Morris, and explained Cleary’s lack of x-factor is simply down to him playing role.

“When you’re in that side, you don’t have to do what he does (at club level),” he said on SEN.

“People saying he’s never aimed up at rep footy, Origin he hasn’t had the best of luck, but I find Nathan Cleary has no ego.

“If anything, he’s too nice. The game plan was obviously revolving around Harry and Munster on the back of that … we’ve won three-zip, he’s your halfback.

“As the game’s wore on they got more cohesion, if there was a fourth Test I’d back us to score 50.”