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NSW Blues halfback Nathan Cleary has been awarded player of the match for an outstanding performance in his side’s 34-10 victory in Origin 2.
The number seven controlled the game perfectly, coming up with the best contribution of his short Origin career.
His kicking game was nigh-on flawless, and Cleary also constantly challenged the Queensland defence with his running game, and his passing game was accurate all night. Unsurprisingly for the halfback, he was also tough without the ball, hitting hard in defence.
The performance came after a week in which Cleary’s place in the NSW side was constantly called into question, with the state’s greatest-ever number seven calling for the 22-year-old to be dropped.
However he well and truly answered all of his critics, playing arguably the best game of a Blues halfback since Johns retired in 2005 – and Joey himself labelled it the greatest kicking performance he’s ever seen from a NSW player in the position.
A tougher test awaits Cleary and all of his Blues teammates next week, as the 2020 State of Origin series heads to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for a decider.
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