Royce Simmons is up front with his bias but the former Penrith skipper has backed Nathan Cleary to snatch the Australia jersey from Daly Cherry-Evans for this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
On Wednesday the 1991 premiership-winning captain said his modern-day counterpart is the best halfback in the competition and should get the Kangaroos’ job at the end of the year.
The 23-year-old NSW halfback already has the leg up on his Queensland rival after Penrith thumped Manly 46-6 last Thursday, with the two set to go head to head again next month.
The Manly skipper is the incumbent halfback after Australia’s last outing, a shock 16-12 loss to Tonga at the end of 2019.
While Cherry-Evans and the Sea Eagles are struggling without a win for the season, the Panthers are at the opposite end of the spectrum after winning their first four rounds of the season.
From their past 22 games, the only game the Panthers have lost is the NRL grand final against Melbourne and for former Kangaroo Simmons, that form is unbeatable for an Australia jersey.
“I’m probably biased, but I’ll put my hand up and say he’s the best (Australian halfback),” Simmons said on Wednesday.
“Last year to get them to 17 wins in a row, you just don’t do that unless your man at the top steering you around the park is on his game every week.
“His consistency factor is really good.
“He knows his ball playing and running game … he does both.
“The best part of his game that never gets mentioned is his defence.
“The backrowers that run at him, he knocks them down.
“You don’t have to hide him or put him outside the centre or any of that. He’s a brilliant young man as well.”
Organisers are pushing ahead with the RLWC which is set to be staged in England from the end of October.
A COVID-19 interrupted rugby league schedule last year prevented Cleary from claiming the No.7 Green and Gold jersey, although he lost the Origin series to Cherry-Evans’ Queensland side in November.
On Friday he’ll get another chance to stamp his claim on the Kangaroos job when he goes up against English halfback George Williams in Penrith’s clash with Canberra.
Williams furthered Simmons’ call, saying Cleary is the in-form player of the competition.
“Nathan Cleary is probably the best player in the league at the moment and we’ll have to nullify him as best we can if we’re any chance of winning,” Williams said.
“I’ve got respect for him as a player but I won’t be giving him too much on Friday night.”
As far as the Kangaroos jersey goes at the end of the season, Cleary said he’s keeping his head clear of distractions but if it comes to him it would be a dream come true.
“I’m just trying to play well each week and try to be consistent but if that honour did come it’d be pretty awesome and a dream come true,” he said.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
club performances count for 3/5ths of bugger all at state & national level. Cleary's proven hes a good club player. As for SOO 2018 - wasn't that when the Maroons lost Cronk, Thurston & Smith to retirement? Pretty big boots to fill after how many years of SOO experience in such dominant ball playing positions.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Jeez, your avatar suits you... :laughing:
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Roosters are going to be on the wrong end of a couple more concussions I’m afraid to say, andrew. I fear for the young half dancing across the field in coo ee of Wade Graham, he’s going to get taken.
kk
Roar Pro
Agreed Albo. I rate Cleary on top with 92, Reynolds 89, Moses 86, Williams 86. Keary was on 90.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I'd be more worried about your Sharks this week Souvalis. Are they going to give the Roosters a run for their money.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Not that I'm a sheep, but the marks seem to be general consensus. Plus I did say 'club' so the club success mentioned is accepted and par for the course. And Freddy may be a tad biased, Cleary had one outstanding game. That's one outstanding mom level game over what, 8 SOO? It seems fairy well accepted that he isn't the standout in SOO that he is in clubland. Last SOO in 3 games he had no tries 1 try assist, 2 line break assists, 1 offload and kicked under 70%. (Stats from NRL) That's hardly on level with his club performances.
Rob
Guest
When did Capewell leave the Sharks and go to Penrith? Who scored the try to put Penrith in front of the Storm?
Rob
Guest
And Kurt Capewell. Maybe he’s the man we just don’t see.
Rob
Guest
Cleary is in the form of his life. Better get in quick before young Walker gets going. I wouldn’t undersell what Laui and Kikau are doing for Cleary also. DCE hasn’t got those sort of team mates.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
good club players don't always translate into good State or National players. Cleary hasn't done anything special beyond good club form
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Reynolds is the best half-back in the game. Has won more than Cleary, scored more points and has a better kicking game. Royce should comment in 5-6 years time, see if Cleary wins a title with his team first.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Debuted SOO in ‘18 played all 3 won the series. ‘19 played 2 won the series ‘20 lost the series but judged his states best by the only bloke he needs to listen to.(if I were Rellum I’d blame our mis tackling centers for that, but nah let it go.) One GF, picked his side up on his shoulders from 20 down at halftime . Lost the Dally M amongst gasps, no idea where Cherry finished. In a team that currently has a win loss rate around 22-1 (GF) from off his back, I can’t recall one poor performance. DP you are an exceptionally hard marker.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I did say consistently
Rob
Guest
He wouldn't of had to drag them back from 26-0 in that GF if he handled the "blowtorch" in the first half. I think the fact that he only found his groove once they were down 26-0 just further proves Adam's point to be honest. When the game was in the balance he was poor, once they were gone and the pressure was off he started to perform. He's obviously going to be the #1 halfback for a long time to come, but at the moment the chink in his armour is that he tends to struggle in the big moments. I think he'll overcome that sooner rather than later but at this stage it's a fair criticism.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Tedesco gets knocked out, we lose by a breath and it’s Cleary’s fault. Munster gets knocked out, no leader appears, but Hunt gets thrown under the bus as QLD gets pantsed. Fine I will explain it to you. Tedesco was a fullback, which NSW had many, MANY options to replace him with in game with rep quality. He also did not defend in the line or organize the team in attack. Munster going meant we had no one to defend that part of the field, no quality replacements, which meant we gave up try after try and never really got much ball after that for DCE to work with.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Manly fans will be pleased to hear that.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Not true at all. He’s been a terrific footballer. He’s just not the best half back in the NRL right now. Nor is he doing anything out of his comfort zone to make his club side in anyway inspired. Do I retort ‘You just don’t like Cleary we get it.’ ?
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
My feelings are for Reynolds by far, a better half than both in this discussion. As a Qld supporter the likes of Cherry-Evans and Hunt are the worst rep selections in both SOO and the Kangaroos, but of course who else comes into contention and who will be considered in the future?
Rellum
Roar Guru
You don't like Cherry, we get it
andrew
Roar Rookie
Forget about last week Souvalis, DCE will fire up when he puts on that QLD jersey.