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Dominating a State of Origin series or a decider is about the only thing that Nathan Cleary has not yet managed to do in an otherwise sparkling career. But the game’s best player insists he is not out to tick off a bucket list item in its most intense arena.
Laurie Daley’s NSW squad on Thursday continued preparations for next week’s opening game of the interstate series at Accor Stadium, with centre Stephen Crichton completing a contact session on the Central Coast after sitting out training a day earlier due to an ongoing shoulder injury.
It was also another opportunity for Cleary to work on his combination with Blues halves partner Mitchell Moses before they line up together for NSW for only the second time.
Much responsibility rests with the four-time Panthers premiership winning No.7, who has won three series and two man-of-the-match awards in 17 appearances at interstate level – but remains saddled with a perception he has never “owned” a NSW series victory in the manner of some other all-time greats.
He admitted as much in the aftermath of a shattering loss in the third game in 2025. It was the third time in his three deciding Origin matches as NSW halfback that he had experienced defeat.
With nearly a year to digest that disappointment, though, the 28-year-old insists he is not entering this series with his so-called final frontier on his mind.
“For me, it’s never been like a checklist sort of thing where if I do this, this and this, then, it’s done,” Cleary said. “It’s a day-to-day thing of trying to get better and improve, that’s where my head is at.
“I was obviously pretty disappointed after game three last year and at the end of the day if you don’t win, then you haven’t done your job. It was disappointing, but I thought compared to past years, I sort of tried to understand what happened a bit quicker.
“I think with the fact that you go back to club land, you can sort of just sweep it under the rug quite easily. But I sort of sat on it for a few days, and then it gave me peace of mind just to sort of move on from it, grow from it, learn from it ... I’m lucky enough to be back in here.”
Cleary comes into the series with his NRL future beyond next year, when he comes off contract for Penrith, up in the air.
With father Ivan announcing last week he would finish up as Panthers coach at the end of the 2027 season, speculation about where the playmaker could end up gained further pace.
The PNG Chiefs and other rival NRL clubs could make him a multi-million dollar offer when he becomes free to talk to other teams on November 1, while a lucrative move to Super League and a code switch to rugby have also been raised as options for Cleary, whose partner Mary Fowler plays soccer for Manchester City.
After saying last week he was in no hurry to sign a new contract, he dismissed the idea that conquering Origin could make it easier to leave the NRL, if that is what he chooses to do.
“In terms of even thinking about that, that’s so far down the track, to be honest,” he said.
Cleary maintains his focus in Origin is to “be the best teammate I can and play up to the standards that I set for myself”.
“In my own mind they’re the sort of things I value as being a good team player and doing what the team needs of me,” he said. “At the end of the day, owning Origin is subjective to anyone that wants to comment on it.”
Cleary’s father last week expressed interest in coaching at representative level after leaving Penrith but he said he hadn’t thought about that possibility.
“It’s this series that I’m focused on,” he said. “I’ve got Laurie as a coach, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working alongside him.”
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