Fans turn on Penrith champ Nathan Cleary after State of Origin shocker
As his opposite number Tom Dearden ran riot in a man-of-the-match performance, Cleary struggled to pull the Blues into the contest in Wednesday night's stunning 24-12 loss to Queensland.
'Shattering to be honest,' a forlorn Cleary said at full-time.
'I feel terrible. It's just so frustrating. I've been here before and it happened again. It sucks,'
'I didn't adjust quick enough to their rushing defence and it played into their hands a little bit.'
Despite guiding Penrith to a historic four consecutive premierships, Cleary has long been dogged by criticism of his ability to deliver in pressure moments for the Blues.
On Wednesday night, Cleary passed Mitchell Pearce and Andrew Johns to become NSW's most-capped halfback but has won only eight of his 17 matches for the state.
Of his most recent seven, Cleary has claimed victory in only two, among them a dominant Game II win in Perth in 2022.
Cleary was the starting halfback for all three games of the 2020 series, when the Maroons won with a team branded their worst in history by sections of the Sydney press.
He guided NSW to series wins in 2018 and 2021 with victories in the first two games of those series but has now lost both of the Game III deciders in which he has played.
Unquestionably the leading halfback of his generation, Cleary conceded it was fair to criticise him for not yet having delivered in the Origin arena.
'At the end of the day, I haven't,' the 27-year-old said.
'I'm the harshest marker of myself anyway so I don't really think that what other people say is out of line because I probably think that of myself anyway.
'At the end of the day, you just feel like you've let down the boys that you play with and the state obviously.
'That's what hurts the most. I let down myself and my own high standards. It's frustrating.'
Fans turned on Cleary after and during the game on Wednesday, with many mocking the champ with unpublishable comments.
'Luai is an easy target for those that don't know footy. If he had partnered a fit Mitch Moses, NSW would have repeated. It's time to admit that Nathan Cleary is a great player in club land only,' one fan said on social media.
And another: 'Nathan Cleary is a myth. Good player in a great Panthers team. Origin level shows where he is as an individual.'
And another: 'Unpopular opinion but Nathan Cleary is a system halfback.'
Another said: 'It's time to admit that Nathan Cleary is a great player in club land only.'
And another: 'Don Bradman made 28,000 runs at state level. Imagine if he never measured up at the highest level, never scored a run in The Ashes. That's Nathan Cleary in State of Origin.'
Another said: 'Nathan Cleary is a champion. There's not many in history who could've done what he did in 2023. But can people, Panthers fans in particular, stop acting as though he's this underrated Origin great? He's never proven himself in a consequential game on that stage.'
Cleary said it was tough to realise that he would need to wait until next year for another chance at righting the wrongs.
'That's what's sinking in now,' he said.
'I just want to play again but that's not how it works. It's much like a grand final I guess. It's the biggest game of all and if you lose it you've got to wait another whole year to get back there.
'I think it's about just growing from it, not trying to kick stones.'
Penrith and NSW teammate Brian To'o said it was natural for Cleary to be down on himself after the series, which the Blues led 1-0 before dropping two straight games.
'I'd obviously be worried if he wasn't feeling that way but that's just the way he is. I know he'll definitely come back stronger,' he said.
'That's what makes 'Clez' a great player. He's always looking to keep getting better. I know that 'Clez' is definitely going to note this down and hopefully dominate next year.'
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