Cleary kicks his critics into touch<\/h2>\n\nThe 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
‘I find that commentary really lazy and really lame,’ Gould said after fulltime.<\/p>\n
‘It\u2019s an unfair expectation. They put on these playmakers that suddenly they have to dominate Origin to be recognised as an Origin player. <\/p>\n
‘He\u2019s an outstanding Origin player. He\u2019s a champion footballer, cometh the hour, cometh the champion.<\/p>\n
‘What more do you want? This rubbish about dominating – I find that ridiculous.’<\/p>\n
![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/07\/08\/13\/1783514095035_wide_galleryImage_Nathan_Cleary_of_the_Blue.JPG\")
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
‘I find that commentary really lazy and really lame,’ Gould said after fulltime.<\/p>\n
‘It\u2019s an unfair expectation. They put on these playmakers that suddenly they have to dominate Origin to be recognised as an Origin player. <\/p>\n
‘He\u2019s an outstanding Origin player. He\u2019s a champion footballer, cometh the hour, cometh the champion.<\/p>\n
‘What more do you want? This rubbish about dominating – I find that ridiculous.’<\/p>\n
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