Nathan Cleary is confident he can adapt his kicking game to the English conditions as the Kangaroos chase victory in the opening game of the Ashes series this weekend. 

The quirks of British fields have caught out countless halfbacks over the years, with in-goal areas notoriously small to accommodate for the length of soccer pitches. 

The weather also plays a factor, with rain and wind causing havoc with players’ kicking radars.


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Cleary and the Kangaroos halves have spent the past few days acclimatising to the conditions in London, while the playmaker is also looking to draw on his experience at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 World Club Challenge when he takes to Wembley Stadium this weekend. 

“You do have to adjust your kicking,” Cleary told NRL.com. “In the World Cup final at Old Trafford, which was a crazy experience in itself to play at Old Trafford, the in-goals were absolutely tiny. 

“It’s definitely something to be aware of but from experience being over there sometimes you can overthink it a bit. You need to trust your skill and back yourself to get it in the in-goal rather than think too much about it but you do have to assess as the game’s going on.”

Cleary is one of multiple players with experience playing in England, with eight members of the World Cup-winning team returning for the Ashes. 

A further three have featured in World Club Challenge games in the UK, providing valuable experience in unique British conditions. 

Wembley, however, is a different kettle of fish. Australia’s last match at the historic venue was in 2011, when Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston led the Kangaroos to a 36-20 win over England. 

The Kangaroos received an early taste of the atmosphere inside the 90,000-seat stadium on Sunday when they attended an NFL game at the ground. 

It was Australian captain Isaah Yeo’s first trip to Wembley and gave an insight into what to expect this weekend.


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“It’s a hostile environment with the crowd,” Yeo said. “It’s what makes English sport unique. The atmosphere is special because they’re into it for the whole 80 minutes. 

“We experienced that in the World Club Challenge against Wigan and even in Vegas, they create such an amazing atmosphere and we’re looking forward to it. 

“Getting 60,000 fans to Wembley and then the next two games are sold out so it’s going to be a hostile environment. It’s exactly what you expect at this level and shows how much the fans care. 

“It’s something we’re really excited for. It’s not every day you get a crowd like that to walk into. It’s going to be a wonderful challenge and we can’t wait.”

The English have been deliberate with their scheduling for the series, with Headingley selected for the third and final Test. 

The 20,000-seat field sold out in the priority window, with British fans set to cram into the stadium to create a hostile atmosphere for a potential decider.


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The home-ground advantage and the three-game nature of the Ashes has led to comparisons with a State of Origin series, albeit condensed into a shorter timeframe. 

Having captained NSW this year, Yeo is well aware that a win in Game One doesn’t guarantee a series victory. He does, however, recognise how much of an advantage it is to start the campaign on the front foot.

“Queensland this year showed it’s not the be-all and end-all and you can come back from 1-0 down but you certainly want to go out there in the first match and have a good performance,” Yeo said. 

“The first game is often not about footy but about attrition. Then as the series goes on, you can play more footy as the connections build.

“The first game is an important one because of all the build up and the hype around it and it’s the first opportunity for both teams to represent their country. I’m expecting a hostile crowd and a physical challenge and we’re ready for it.”