The half has played starring roles in countless club matches and dragged Penrith to that incredible grand final win over Brisbane, but Origin had been a different story for him… until now.
The two-time Clive Churchill winner took out Origin’s equivalent of that award by being named player of the series, and Phil Gould smashed the naysayers who said Cleary had never ‘owned’ Origin.
‘I find that commentary really lazy and really lame,’ Gould said after fulltime.
‘It’s an unfair expectation. They put on these playmakers that suddenly they have to dominate Origin to be recognised as an Origin player.
‘He’s an outstanding Origin player. He’s a champion footballer, cometh the hour, cometh the champion.
‘What more do you want? This rubbish about dominating – I find that ridiculous.’
