Cleary shines in Game II

SYDNEY: Kicked to the kerb for the past two weeks — with no less than Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns calling for him to be punted from the side — Nathan Cleary has booted the Blues to victory, a Suncorp decider and his finest hour yet on the game’s biggest stage.
Cleary came into game two branded a ‘flop’ by northern media, the donuts in his tries, try assist, line break and line-break assist columns from six Origin outings cited as just cause.
By full-time New South Wales (NSW) had a 34-10 triumph and Cleary man-of-the-match honours.
The Panthers playmaker didn’t fill his boots in those standout stats, instead keeping a lethal right boot on the Queenslanders’ throat throughout.
Getting ahead of the rushing defence that has brought him undone more than once in big games, Cleary kicked long and early in the tackle count repeatedly, finishing with two forced drop-outs, a 40/20 and 473 kicking metres.
Johns, having called for Cleary’s axing after Origin I, paid his dues in commentary repeatedly throughout Cleary’s return to form, the 36,212 on hand at ANZ Stadium doing likewise with every pinpoint punt.
“His kicking game tonight has been top notch,” Johns said.
“A couple of big plays with early kicks which changed the momentum but he is standing up, demanding the ball and they’re attacking to their right-hand side through Nathan.
“He has been super. Under all sorts of pressure and he’s really stood up.”

For Queensland, their task was all-but insurmountable from the second minute when Cameron Munster’s head hit the ANZ Stadium turf heavily.
A failed head injury assessment ruled him out of the contest just moments after it had begun, the Maroons reduced to 16 men as NSW’s dominance on paper transferred to the paddock.
It took some time though.
Teen speedster Xavier Coates took flight and Queensland took first points through a sublime perpendicular touchdown, true to the Olympic track and field aspirations he held growing up in Papua New Guinea.
The Blues wore plenty before they got a true crack in Queensland territory.
It was Cleary splitting them open with a show and go for his first line break in the Origin arena.
His latest halves partner Cody Walker made the most of it and then some, dummying and spinning past Kurt Capewell as the Blues attacked his right edge for the first time, but definitely not the last.
Up 6-4, Cleary then pinned Phillip Sami in his in-goal, earning a try assist a minute later for his troubles.
But the four-pointer was all James Tedesco’s. – NRL