Nathan Cleary set to lose key role in Origin decider as concerns remain over Lomax

Yahoo

2 days ago

NSW coach Laurie Daley has claimed Nathan Cleary should be close to 100 per cent fit for the State of Origin decider even though he expects him to relinquish the kicking tee as the Blues look to solve their issues. Cleary has been battling a groin injury since Origin Game 2 having suffered the setback during the captain's run in Perth.
Daley and Cleary both copped some backlash after Game 2 with the halfback not taking on the kicking duties in a poor first 40 minutes. While Cleary improved in the second-half as NSW fell short of a historic comeback, questions were asked about his participation going forward having also handed over the goal-kicking role to Lomax.
While coach Ivan Cleary rested all his Origin representatives for the win over the Warriors, Cleary returned for the Bulldogs clash and managed to score the winning try. Cleary will get more than 12 days to rest before pulling on the Sky Blue jersey for the decider, but there are still question marks over his fitness.
On Monday, Daley appeared to quell concerns around whether Cleary will be back to his best in Game 3. Although the coach admitted he probably will hand over the goal-kicking duties to Zac Lomax for the decider. 'Ah yeah we think he will be 100 per cent fit,' Daley said.
'Although I don't think he will be goal kicking, but again that will be up to Nathan and just to see how he is travelling, but I wouldn't expect him to goal kick. I think Zac Lomax will do a great job for us. It was just unfortunate that before game two he sort of twinged his groin, so he did a really good job for us to play in fact.
'We were unsure if he was going to play or not, but he and the medical staff did a terrific job for those 24 hours and he was confident that he could get through, but obviously couldn't do goal kicking and couldn't do a lot of the long kicking. But he's more confident now than what he was leading into game two and we are still nine days away from Origin III, so I think he will be close to 100 per cent, by game three.'
Unfortunately, goal-kicking has been an issue for NSW in the 2025 series. Both Lomax and Cleary have struggled from the kicking tee having only slotted four from nine attempts with question marks being asked in both games.
In Game 1, NSW were clearly the dominant side and scored four tries to Queensland's one in the 18-6 win. However, Cleary struggled with his conversions having missed all three. He then handed over the kicking duties to Lomax. But the Eels winger then missed his only attempt.
In Game 2, NSW scored five tries to Queensland's four. Although Lomax only kicked two from five conversions with the Blues losing 26-24.
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But Daley has already suggested Lomax is ready to step up again and deliver for his state. Although he only kicked at 50 per cent on the weekend in his side's loss to the Dragons. NSW has two other options who Daley admitted would be with back-ups for Cleary. Although both players are kicking better than Lomax at NRL level in 2025.
The stats show Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton are both arguably better options than Lomax, whose kicking percentage declined in his last few seasons with the Dragons. Although NSW fans should expect Lomax to line-up for goal with the Blues relying on the winger to step-up during Cleary's struggles.