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August 1, 2026 \u2014 9:30am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n One of the first things Ethan Strange did when he was named to start in the halves for NSW on the eve of Origin I was to ask Nathan Cleary about the Miracle in Mudgee.<\/a> Not to gloat about that length-of-the-field try that won the game in extra time \u2013 Strange wanted to discuss the other play he ran against Penrith that night.<\/p>\n In the 75th minute of the Raiders\u2019 epic 20-16 golden point win in round 25 of last season, Canberra were attacking Penrith\u2019s line when Strange drifted from the left side of the field to the right.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Halfback Jamal Fogarty threw a short ball for Strange on the runaround, and he used his speed and power to get on the outside of Scott Sorensen and inside Blaize Talagi to score a try.<\/p>\n Cleary, a student of the game, knew exactly what Strange was talking about when the subject was raisedbefore Origin I. The chat came not long after it had become clear Strange would be starting ahead of the injured Mitchell Moses<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cleary and Strange rehearsed it at the captain\u2019s run on the Tuesday, then attempted the play approaching the hour mark at Accor Stadium as the Blues started their comeback against a 12-man Queensland.<\/p>\n Strange, 21, playing in his first Origin game and growing in confidence with every minute, did much the same as he did that night in Mudgee \u2013 drifted to the right, called for the ball and steamrolled Cameron Munster to score.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The play worked to perfection, but a mistimed run from back-rower Haumole Olakau\u2019atu, who collided with Harry Grant while serving as a decoy runner, resulted in the four-pointer being overturned by the video referee.<\/p>\n Four points might not have been the result in Origin, but the manner in which the playmakers replicated the move was there for all to see. The connection had been quickly established.<\/p>\n In the countdown to Saturday\u2019s Penrith-Canberra clash in the town in NSW\u2019s central western, Cleary praised Strange for backing himself on the big stage.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a credit to him \u2013 it\u2019s a play he likes, and as soon as he found out he was playing [Origin I], he came up to me and said, \u2018Let\u2019s run it\u2019,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n \u201cI was like, yeah sweet, and we got it on. Unfortunately, it didn\u2019t end up a try, but it was nice to have someone there with that confidence to say, let\u2019s do it.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I remember from that night last year [in Mudgee] was me missing the field goal, then \u2018Strangey\u2019 cracking me with the left foot<\/a>, then they ran the length. It was a pretty bad feeling. Hopefully we can turn it around on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n NSW coach Laurie Daley recalled the pair discussing the play.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only time I can remember them trying that play was at the captain\u2019s run,\u201d Daley said. \u201cI knew once they got into the position they did in game one, then Strangey started to move, I knew it was coming.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just wait to see what happens off the back of it. I thought it was great. You have to play to your strengths.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t always see that play because a lot of the five-eighths aren\u2019t runners \u2013 some just hold an edge \u2013 and you also need the power to do it. It also shows you what Nath is about and how he\u2019s happy to listen and try anything \u2013 he\u2019s all about the team.<\/p>\n![\"Origin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/b3ff2f31c56d62bae525110d419fe33a986dbf61.jpeg\")
Origin halves Nathan Cleary and Ethan Strange will go head-to-head on Saturday.Getty Images<\/p>\n
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