NSW blew the chance to win the 2025 series at Accor Stadium in a one-sided game three that saw the Maroons blitz the Blues in the first half on their way to a comfortable 12-point victory.<\/p>\n
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Players were emotional in the sheds as the reality of the defeat hit home, with Cleary spending time with his parents analysing what went wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s never nice losing, but particularly such a big game being a game three Origin at home as well,\u201d he said in camp. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was devastating, I can\u2019t lie. But you\u2019ve sort of just got to pick yourself back up, dust yourself off, move forward, and get better. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no point sort of sulking about it and feeling sorry for yourself. Here we are a year on, and I\u2019m hoping I can use those lessons to play better.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019ve got to grow from it. You can\u2019t live in the past too much, but you can learn from it. That pain is definitely a sort of burning fire there.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I sort of used that last year to try and just get better as a person and as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleary was below his best in that game, with the world\u2019s premier playmaker yet to fully dominate the Origin arena like he does in the NRL despite winning three series.<\/p>\n
Critics have questioned Cleary\u2019s Origin form. Picture: Matt King\/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been dubbed his final frontier, but the Panthers champion insists that his losing record in Origin and the criticism that\u2019s come with it aren\u2019t motivating him. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not so much doubters (for me) to prove wrong,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know what I need from myself, and I\u2019ve been disappointed with my performances in the past. I\u2019d say that I am my own harshest critic. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it\u2019s not so much about proving doubters wrong, it\u2019s about repaying the faith that Loz (NSW coach Laurie Daley) has shown in me and the Blues have shown in me, but also my family and stuff as well. It\u2019s about repaying that faith and also to myself. <\/p>\n
\u201cI know what I\u2019m capable of and it\u2019s trying to reach those heights.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s just you sort of understand Origin is different to club footy, and you just don\u2019t get as many opportunities as you would in regular season games. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be prepared to take those and just be willing to put your best foot forward and not step back and just play.<\/p>\n
Ponga’s heartwarming tribute to Arrow | 00:47<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the hardest game you\u2019ll play, no doubt. Just the intensity and the physicality of it. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs I said before, it\u2019s those minuscule moments. There\u2019s not many that pop up in a game, so you\u2019ve got to be ready to take them. If you miss them, you might not get one again. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely something that I\u2019ve learnt over time, but you\u2019ve got to put yourself in the frame to be able to take those moments, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleary will partner Eels halfback Mitchell Moses for just the second time, with the pair steering the Blues to victory in last year\u2019s opening game before Moses suffered an injury in camp ahead of the second match.<\/p>\n
There have been questions over whether two genuine halfbacks can combine in Origin, but Cleary is confident they can build on what they did 12 months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always watch Mitch from afar in admiration of his game,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s easily one of the best halfbacks in the game and being able to team up with him again \u2013 we only got the one game last year \u2013 but I thoroughly enjoyed it and looking to build on that now. <\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we can solidify that partnership and grow it.<\/p>\n
Stephen Crichton trained on Thursday after missing the previous day\u2019s session. Picture: Matt King\/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Mitch actually grew up as a six, so it\u2019s obviously there for him and he\u2019s got that X-factor about him as well. I thought game one last year we combined pretty well, and that was only off 10 days of preparation or something. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019re looking to build on that again. It\u2019s just been fun getting to team up with him in these first few days of training and looking to build on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton trained on Thursday after missing Wednesday\u2019s sessions due to a shoulder injury, with Cleary defending his former Penrith teammate amid criticism of his current club form. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s never shied away from a big moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the criticism is pretty ridiculous. Every time he\u2019s been asked to do a job in a big game, he\u2019s gone over and above. <\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely love taking the field with him and just his leadership as well, his presence. Every time I look across and I\u2019m next to him on the field, I feel great so I\u2019m happy he\u2019s there.\u201d<\/p>\n
MAROONS INVITE JAI ARROW INTO QLD CAMP<\/p>\n
The Maroons will have added motivation for the Origin series with retired forward Jai Arrow set to be invited to be a part of their camp following his heartbreaking MND diagnosis. <\/p>\n
Arrow shocked the rugby league world by announcing his retirement from the game on Tuesday after a gut wrenching diagnosis<\/a> for motor neurone disease. <\/p>\n The 30-year-old called time on his illustrious rugby league career after 12 tries in 178 games for the Broncos, Titans and Rabbitohs. <\/p>\n The courageous forward also played 12 Origins for the Maroons from 2018 to 2023 and won series in 2020, 2022 and 2023, his final season in the arena. <\/p>\n The Courier Mail<\/a> now reports <\/a>Arrow could play a part in helping his state\u2019s 2026 campaign with Queensland coach Billy Slater planning to offer him the chance to be involved. <\/p>\n MORE NEWS<\/p>\n TALKING POINTS: Telling moment we \u2018haven\u2019t seen\u2019 from Dogs; $2.7m call could<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018CRIED FOR EIGHT MINUTES\u2019: Sacrifices behind Raiders rookie\u2019s emotional debut<\/a><\/p>\n