We aren't talking club game. We are talking a game that the forwards didn't aim up and the ref allowed the ruck to be very slow and very stop start. As a result you get grinds.
Queensland have gotten away with slowing the ruck all series.
Game 3 NSW ptb speed - 3.72s. 54% possession
Game 2 NSW ptb speed - 3.98s. 51% possession
Game 1 NSW ptb speed - 3.69s. 51% possession
Last night was the only game of the series NSW and QLD were even close in the ruck. Queensland had much faster play the balls to us the first 2 games and last night was nearly identical.
Looking at the last few QLD wins. all are in the same style of grinding footy all with Sutton as ref
2018 - QLD 18-12
2019 - QLD 18-14
2020 - QLD 18-14
2020- QLD 20-14
2021- QLD 20-18
Cleary played in all but last night. I am not blaming him for the losses btw just saying that when things don't go right it is hard for a number 7.
That's funny. Last year it was all Clearys fault. But look at each game there:
2018 - Jimmy was the main man. Cleary was only there to assist. Just as he did at club level as no one wanted him being the main man because Jimmy was the better player
2019 - Cleary was paired with Walker and neither knew their role. Cleary's role didnt work with Walker. His role only worked with Jimmy
2020 Game 1 - Cleary was poor. Whole team seemed to think a win would just happen.
2020 Game 3 - Cleary was best NSW player but didn't matter when his team were pumped across the park and only had 43% ball in poor field position
2018 and 2019 Cleary had the actual role you think that's all he's good for. He was only present to let others star. Specifically his halves partner He wasn't the Cleary he became in 2020 when he finally become the main man for Penrith and was allowed to develop into the best half in the game.
Same thing last night. Weakened forward pack, Slow rucks and little to no 10m
A few times early on NSW tried to spread it and Moses was pumped by Holmes. That isn't on the 7 it is the service inside the same service Cleary would of been receiving.
Weakened forward pack? The only change from Game 2 was Finucane in for Saifiti. The ruck speed for NSW was the same as Game 1and faster than Game 2. The pack was picked defensively for this series and our backs have gotten us the metres to keep our pack fresher defensively.
NSW made more metres and dominated possession. Cleary learned how to play and where to stand with limited space. Isaah Yeo playmaking in the middle helps create space for his 7. But Cleary is willing to take a hit and if the space closes up Cleary will run it himself and get a quick play the ball so the next play has more chance. Moses doesn't have that mentality. It's extremely basic but it makes a world of difference.
Mitchell lost got pumped in a tackle by Hunt attacking the line. Then missed a tackle on Ponga for Hunt to go the other end and score. When Hunt scored that try Martin was on the wing and Haas standing at centre again not something a 7 being there would fix
Those misses on Hunt were mostly by Payne Haas. But Cleary is oneof the best cover defenders in the game. Even before he was the best game managing half he was saving tries that looked for all money to be tries. Cleary being there makes a huge difference defensively.
Firstly because the opposition don't get the same
cheap opportunities NSW gifted QLD with poor kicks. But also because Cleary is consistently the hardest working player on the field. Covering more ground than every other player. Playing at a higher intensity than other players and so on. He makes a difference defensively. Even with one arm he was shutting down opportunities in Game 2.
Cleary was a good solid half up until 2019 but his role was usually to let his key playmaker control games. So his game management only ever came on display occasionally when Moylan and then Jimmy was out. Thats where we saw glimpses of his game management and leadership
2020 rolls along and suddenly it becomes his team. His game management evolves and he quickly became the best player in the game. But he still wasn't perfect and the mistakes he has made he learned from them to return in 2021 an even better player. The reason he continues to improve is because he works harder to get rid of those flaws in his game. He studies games and situations to see where he could have done better. It's remarkable just how much difference even little decisions can make. But also how accurate Cleary is in being able to execute his plays. Cleary knows where he wants the ball and he can get it there with pinpoint accuracy.
