Nathan Cleary has thrown his support behind Jarome Luai’s selection for the Blues and opened up on the scuffle that saw Demitric Sifakula sin-binned in Penrith’s win over the Warriors.
All the talk heading into Origin I is whether Nicho Hynes or Jarome Luai should wear the NSW No.6 jersey, but Cleary knows who he wants beside him.
“I think it is just the fact that when you are tired that combination is there and you don’t actually need to talk to each other,” Cleary junior said.
Watch every game of NRL’s Magic Round LIVE in HD, with no ad-breaks during play on Fox League, available on Foxtel and Kayo >
“I think me and Jarome have built that over a long period of time.
“At the end of the day I am not the one to answer who should be there, but I really enjoy playing with Jarome and playing alongside him. I have done it for a long time.
“I’ve been lucky to do it for a long time now and we have been lucky to come through the grades together and play on the biggest stage with and against each other.
“I just enjoy playing alongside him.”
MORE NRL NEWS
REPORT CARD: Every team graded, their standout star and biggest issue to address
‘NOT DOING THEIR JOB’: Ciraldo roasts ‘soft’ Dogs in savage post-game takedown
‘I DON’T MIND SAYING IT’: Ricky’s ultimate ‘integrity’ call on Raiders legend
BIG HITS: Origin contender gets ‘better and better’ as Manly ‘chase their tail’
Cleary and dad and coach Ivan Cleary were asked about the scuffle that saw Warriors youngster Sifakula sin-binned for striking Cleary as third man in.
“I don’t really remember what happened,” Cleary junior said.
“I was face to face with Curran.”
“Honestly I didn’t really see it, I saw his head go back,” Cleary senior said.
“It kind of looked like it was something like that so that is just an automatic sin bin isn’t it?”
Cleary junior was reluctant to get in fights, but admitted he had to step up in a physical contest after a poor first half in that department in his opinion.
“I don’t want to get in any fights,” Cleary said.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Hip drop saga continues into Magic round | 00:48
“I thought I was missing a bit of physicality in that first half, so my defence wasn’t the greatest.
“Sometimes those things happen when two teams are wearing their heart on their sleeves.
“That’s the way the game has gone so I had to start getting into it.
“I think that is what makes footy so great and such a great spectacle for the fans is when two teams are going hard at it like that. They are fun games to play in.”
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Gruesome hits on tap at Magic Round! | 00:48
Cleary senior admitted his side were concerned at the prospect of losing their third straight game against the Warriors, but believes his side have been well conditioned from a number of tight games this season.
“For sure,” Cleary senior said when asked if the losses worry the team.
“We have put a lot of effort in some tight games this year and every team has brought their best and we have had a lot of 80 minute wars.
“But the good thing about that is win or lose you get conditioned for that sort of stuff. I think that helped us today.
“It is a tough comp this year and it is a hard earned two points every week. We are just happy to get the two points today and we will start working on next week tomorrow.”
Cleary senior was also full of praise for Dylan Edwards and his back three in a tough contest.
“He continues to deliver,” Cleary senior said.
“Those games suit Dylan. Our back three was great. They do so much work in games like this. It certainly helped us.”
