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To those inside Blues camp, the four-time premiership winner is more than just an elite footballer.<\/p>\n
He is the standard of excellence and sets the benchmark through his discipline, meticulous preparation, commitment to training and ability to perform under the brightest lights in rugby league.<\/p>\n
That approach has earned him the admiration of teammates and opponents alike, who have witnessed first-hand the work that underpins his success and his ability to constantly deliver as the chief playmaker.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy having him in my team and I hate playing against him,\u201d NSW Blues front-rower Mitch Barnett told foxsports.com.au. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the ultimate professional. He\u2019s everything you think he would be.\u201d<\/p>\n
But while those closest to Cleary have long understood his value, the outside noise has often painted a different picture.<\/p>\n
EARLY CRITICISM<\/p>\n
For all of his success at club level for the Penrith Panthers, Cleary\u2019s State of Origin career has rarely escaped scrutiny.<\/p>\n
Despite building a resume that already places him among the game\u2019s greatest players of all time, the Origin arena remained the one stage where critics believed he still had something to prove.<\/p>\n
While he has helped New South Wales claim series victories in 2018, 2019 and 2021, many argued that he had never produced the defining Origin performance that turns a great player into a legend.<\/p>\n
For example, Andrew Johns in Game II of the 2005 series, when he delivered one of the most iconic displays in Origin history.<\/p>\n
With New South Wales facing defeat and the series on the line, the Immortal produced a masterclass at halfback, inspiring the Blues to a famous victory and cementing his reputation as one of the greats.<\/p>\n
m<\/p>\n
Or Wally Lewis, whose dominance throughout the 1980s earned him the nickname \u2018The King\u2019.<\/p>\n
Time and time again, Lewis rose to the occasion when Queensland needed him the most, and his name became synonymous with the Origin arena itself.<\/p>\n
It is that level of impact \u2013 the ability to seize control of an entire match or series and leave a lasting impression \u2013 that has long been used as a measuring stick to separate the game\u2019s great players to the Immortals of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always seen him do that. He\u2019s learnt a lot over the years and has had some really good games and has had some other games where he feels like he could do better,\u201d his father and Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t even know what dominating Origin is because we\u2019ve never seen anyone do it. <\/p>\n
\u201cEven Wally Lewis back in the day, he\u2019s probably the only one who really (went close), but did he? I don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just so proud of him (Nathan) that he\u2019s in there for a start and that he prepares as hard as he can and plays as hard as he can.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did well last week, but it\u2019ll all be on again in a couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
MORE ORIGIN NEWS<\/p>\n
CRONK AND KEARY VERDICT: NSW\u2019s biggest fear; shocker could spark change<\/a><\/p>\n ORIGIN DAILY: Daley\u2019s surprise plan for Blues half as backline switch revealed<\/a><\/p>\n