Pop quiz: Who was the only current NSW player to feature in the 2019 Perth Origin?
Nathan Cleary's work ethic and ability to always 'put his body in harm's way' partly explains why he is last man standing when it comes to the NSW team that produced one of the greatest wet-weather victories by any rugby league side in 2019.
A quick look at the Blues' team photo heading into game two at Optus Stadium six years ago shows Cleary as the only player who will feature at the same venue on Wednesday night.
James Maloney, Wade Graham, Dale Finucane, Blake Ferguson and Boyd Cordner have retired, Jack Wighton retired from representative football, while Tariq Sims and Paul Vaughan are now plying their trade in the Super League.
Cameron Murray is injured, while Jake and Tom Trbojevic, Josh Addo-Carr, Daniel Saifiti, Tyson Frizell, Damien Cook and James Tedesco are still in the NRL, but not featured for the Blues.
Coach Brad Fittler dropped Latrell Mitchell and Angus Crichton – two players who will be there with Cleary next Wednesday – after the game-one loss that year in Brisbane, only for the Blues to respond with a 38-6 drubbing of the Queenslanders. Tom Trbojevic scored three tries, while Fittler recalled Ferguson throwing a miraculous pass from the sideline to the middle of the field that led to one of 'Turbo's' four-pointers.
Cleary played down his longevity, and was quick to point out he suffered a serious ankle injury in the first half before Graham and Maloney combined in the halves. He also hoped Wikipedia was not our source of Perth information, 'because it lists me as Croatian, which I'm not'.
'I remember that game, but I wouldn't call me the sole survivor, only because 'Gus' [Crichton] and 'Trell' [Latrell Mitchell] debuted the year before in 2018, so they've been here a long time as well,' Cleary said.
'That night was all about trying to bounce back from game one. Jimmy came in, we had a solid start, we got into our rhythm, and 'Teddy' [Tedesco] and Turbo were on fire.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
4 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
State of Origin move sparks mass uproar as Ashley Klein set to be named for decider despite controversial showing in Game 2, NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ashley Klein is set to be handed the officiating reins for the State of Origin decider despite his controversial performance in Perth which left New South Wales fans and players outraged. The Blues were on the wrong end of an 8-0 first half penalty count in Game 2, which turned into 9-0 after 45 minutes. By that stage, Queensland were up 26-6. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. In the end, Queensland won 26-24, but the NSW camp felt they were officiated out of the game and scheduled a meeting with NRL management to seek an explanation for several of Klein's controversial calls. The Blues' main gripe was why Klein chose to ignore numerous clear indiscretions by Maroons players while penalising the Blues for similar offences. However, despite the Blues' protests, Code Sports reports Klein will again be in charge of the series decider. Ashley Klein is set to be named as the referee for the State of Origin series decider. Image: Getty That is because the NRL referees are rated under a KPI system by the league and by the numbers Klein is at the top of the list. Categories measured include play-the-ball speed, decision-making, communication, game understanding, accuracy, communication with other officials, consistency, identifying infringements, positioning, game management, ruck communication, positioning, fitness and endurance. His appointment in Sydney will be under heavy scrutiny and will undoubtedly be met with fierce backlash. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Speaking about his Game 2 performance earlier this week Buzz Rothfield tore into the veteran ref, saying his calls cost the Blues the game and series win in Perth. 'I think NSW were ill-disciplined and I don't have too many problems with the nine penalties they conceded. The problem I do have is that anyone can look at a replay of that first half and find 4-5 areas of the game where Queensland could quite easily have been penalised as well,' Rothfield said. 'In my eyes, he was refereeing one side for the majority of the first half. According to the NRL's performance metrics Ashley Klein is the top ref in the game. (Photo by) 'I know we were ill-disciplined and I'm not blaming it for the loss … but Gordie you cannot be perfect in Origin for 45 minutes. Impossible.' 'It's outrageous that Queensland can play 45 minutes in State of Origin and that intensity, mistakes are made, high speed, high intensity and not one penalty. That cannot happen.' × He also went on to say NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley – who refused to answer any question on the officiating after the Game 2 defeat – was privately furious at Klein. 'Laurie will look at the video and find out what he wants to talk to the NRL about and then take it to adjudication,' Rothfield continued. 'He was furious after the game. Privately furious, but he knows he can't come out and say anything. Not just for the fine, but because it'll look like poor sportsmanship.' And as news of Klein's Game 3 appointment spread NSW fans were unsurprisingly annoyed. 'You've got to be kidding,' one fan wrote. 'What an absolute joke!' another added. While a third commented: 'Surely he's not the best ref we have.' NSW will have a home-ground advantage for the series decider, which will take place at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Wednesday, July 9. Originally published as 'Outrageous': State of Origin move sparks furore as Ashley Klein set to be named for series decider
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Eels star Cherrington to miss start of NRLW season
Kennedy Cherrington will miss at least the first three weeks of the NRLW season with the knee injury she suffered in the third State of Origin match. She could be joined on the sidelines by Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who is racing to recover from a minor hamstring injury in time for the season opener against Cronulla. Parramatta had initially hoped NSW forward Cherrington may recover from her posterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the opener on July 3. But she is now tracking to miss up to a third of the regular season with the injury that prevented her from playing the second half of NSW's game-three loss in Newcastle last month. It's a blow for Cherrington, who missed the end of last season with a separate knee issue. "It's tough for Kennedy but it'll be good to get her for the back half of the season," said coach Steve Georgallis. "We're hoping she'll be back for round four or round five at the latest." Eels captain for a second straight season, Murphy is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in time to face the Sharks. "Mahalia's just got a little niggle," Georgallis said. "We're hoping she should be back for round one but if we feel like she's not ready then we're not going to push her." The news is less rosy for Eels forward Boss Kapua, who fractured her fibula in an opposed session and will miss the opening weeks of the competition. "She's tough, she walked off the field and she just said, 'I'm a bit sore here'," Georgallis said. "We were glad it wasn't syndesmosis because syndesmosis can be like 12 (weeks), three months. She'll be three or four weeks. She might even be back before Kennedy." Murphy said she was relishing the chance to start the season against Cronulla, whose narrow win over Parramatta ended up being the difference in the sides' finals fates last year. The Eels lost the round-two match-up by two points, their closest loss of the campaign, then found themselves beaten to the final top-four spot by the Sharks. "It's personal," Murphy said. "I know the girls can definitely beat them. We should've beaten them last year. We're focusing on round one." Kennedy Cherrington will miss at least the first three weeks of the NRLW season with the knee injury she suffered in the third State of Origin match. She could be joined on the sidelines by Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who is racing to recover from a minor hamstring injury in time for the season opener against Cronulla. Parramatta had initially hoped NSW forward Cherrington may recover from her posterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the opener on July 3. But she is now tracking to miss up to a third of the regular season with the injury that prevented her from playing the second half of NSW's game-three loss in Newcastle last month. It's a blow for Cherrington, who missed the end of last season with a separate knee issue. "It's tough for Kennedy but it'll be good to get her for the back half of the season," said coach Steve Georgallis. "We're hoping she'll be back for round four or round five at the latest." Eels captain for a second straight season, Murphy is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in time to face the Sharks. "Mahalia's just got a little niggle," Georgallis said. "We're hoping she should be back for round one but if we feel like she's not ready then we're not going to push her." The news is less rosy for Eels forward Boss Kapua, who fractured her fibula in an opposed session and will miss the opening weeks of the competition. "She's tough, she walked off the field and she just said, 'I'm a bit sore here'," Georgallis said. "We were glad it wasn't syndesmosis because syndesmosis can be like 12 (weeks), three months. She'll be three or four weeks. She might even be back before Kennedy." Murphy said she was relishing the chance to start the season against Cronulla, whose narrow win over Parramatta ended up being the difference in the sides' finals fates last year. The Eels lost the round-two match-up by two points, their closest loss of the campaign, then found themselves beaten to the final top-four spot by the Sharks. "It's personal," Murphy said. "I know the girls can definitely beat them. We should've beaten them last year. We're focusing on round one." Kennedy Cherrington will miss at least the first three weeks of the NRLW season with the knee injury she suffered in the third State of Origin match. She could be joined on the sidelines by Parramatta captain Mahalia Murphy, who is racing to recover from a minor hamstring injury in time for the season opener against Cronulla. Parramatta had initially hoped NSW forward Cherrington may recover from her posterior cruciate ligament injury in time for the opener on July 3. But she is now tracking to miss up to a third of the regular season with the injury that prevented her from playing the second half of NSW's game-three loss in Newcastle last month. It's a blow for Cherrington, who missed the end of last season with a separate knee issue. "It's tough for Kennedy but it'll be good to get her for the back half of the season," said coach Steve Georgallis. "We're hoping she'll be back for round four or round five at the latest." Eels captain for a second straight season, Murphy is hoping to return from a hamstring injury in time to face the Sharks. "Mahalia's just got a little niggle," Georgallis said. "We're hoping she should be back for round one but if we feel like she's not ready then we're not going to push her." The news is less rosy for Eels forward Boss Kapua, who fractured her fibula in an opposed session and will miss the opening weeks of the competition. "She's tough, she walked off the field and she just said, 'I'm a bit sore here'," Georgallis said. "We were glad it wasn't syndesmosis because syndesmosis can be like 12 (weeks), three months. She'll be three or four weeks. She might even be back before Kennedy." Murphy said she was relishing the chance to start the season against Cronulla, whose narrow win over Parramatta ended up being the difference in the sides' finals fates last year. The Eels lost the round-two match-up by two points, their closest loss of the campaign, then found themselves beaten to the final top-four spot by the Sharks. "It's personal," Murphy said. "I know the girls can definitely beat them. We should've beaten them last year. We're focusing on round one."
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- News.com.au
Super Netball, round 11: Swifts beat Giants in NSW derby, all but end rival's finals hopes
The Giants' chances of making an unlikely finals run have all but ended but not without giving ladder leaders the NSW Swifts a massive fright in a thrilling NSW derby. While there was a considerable Kiwi flavour to the match, with the past and future of the Silver Ferns going head-to-head, it was a pair of locals that took the match out of Giants hands, with veteran Swifts captain Paige Hadley and rising defensive star Teigan O'Shannassy sealing the win for the locals. The Giants led by 11 at the opening break after holding the Swifts to their lowest first-quarter score of the season but in a match that could define their season, the women in red fought back to win 75-66, only hitting the front for the first time in the final term. After eight consecutive wins there were plenty believing the Swifts could not be challenged for the title this season but back-to-back losses in the fortnight heading into the derby made the clash a crucial one for both teams. The Giants sprinted from the blocks, scoring the opening four goals of the game and restricted the Swifts to their lowest opening-period of the season, conceding just 10 goals to take an 11-point lead to the opening break. The league leaders started to claw their way back in the second quarter but still trailed by eight at halftime. But an 8-1 run to start the third quarter got them back in the game and after a 24-16 period, they went to the final break with scores level, hitting the front for the first time in the match when they opened the scoring in the final term. They went on with it, unstoppable in the final term as they gained momentum and confidence. 'I feel like that was a full team effort, obviously not the way we wanted to start that game but to be able to grind it out in those last three (quarters), I couldn't be prouder,' said Hadley, who finished with 18 goal assists, 28 feeds and two deflections in a points win over fellow Diamonds midcourter Jamie-Lee Price. 'To have 10,000 people here in red supporting us, we knew this one was a must-win for us, for our season, so a huge effort.' KIWIS' PAST AND FUTURE The trans-Tasman league may have ended almost a decade ago, but it was a contest between two Silver Ferns greats that was a major talking point in this game as former captain and Giants recruit Casey Kopua, who celebrated her 40th birthday during the week, and 23-year-old shooter Grace Nweke went head to head. Kopua finished with four gains - three of those coming in an enormous first quarter effort - but again, it was the direction and confidence she gave to fellow defender Erin O'Brien that was most telling. Nweke finished with 52 goals, 34 of those coming in the second half as the Swifts found their range and got the ball into the circle more directly and rapidly. HAS GIANTS' RUN STOPPED? The Giants were on the bottom of the ladder when Kopua joined them following the season-ending knee injury to Jamaican defender Jodi-Ann Ward. They notched back-to-back wins for the first time in two years ahead of the derby and a win would have given them an outside mathematical chance of a fairytale finals berth. That can't happen now but they will challenge teams in the final three rounds and could have a huge say in the make-up of the final four given they still face the Fever in round 13. TOSSY ON SONG The Swifts have plenty of match-winners and a core of vastly experienced players but Teigan O'Shannassy is making a case to be included in their starting seven as they ramp up their title challenge. The 188cm defender was brought into the match late in the first term but it was not until challenged by coach Briony Akle that she took off. 'I wasn't going for ball, I was letting them take over and Briony said 'pull your finger out', so I did,' O'Shannassy said. She finished with six gains, six deflections and four rebounds in a game-changing effort that would have been watched closely by Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich.
