Mitchell Pearce leaps to Nathan Cleary’s defence

They’re admirable comments from Pearce, although the criticism directed at Cleary hasn’t reached Pearce-like proportions just yet.

In many respects, it can also be justified. In the grand final for Penrith and then the Origin opener for NSW, Cleary has been snuffed out by rushing defence. Quality halves rise above such spoiling tactics.

He’s played six matches for NSW but only won half of them. Those wins have been alongside a dominant James Maloney, whose departure to the UK Super League this year is ironically credited as the reason for Cleary’s stand-out season for Penrith.

His supporters will point out that he’s still only 22 but if he’s going to play with the big boys, he must expect big boy attention. This isn’t a Combined High Schools carnival.

Nevertheless, NSW coach Brad Fittler’s show of faith is also admirable. All sorts of reasons have been tossed up for Fittler backing the young halfback, not least the silly suggestion that Fittler is a former Panther, along with assistant coach Greg Alexander.

When Fittler stuck solid with Cleary for this game, though, it reminded me of a phone call I received from him the day after NSW lost the game-three decider at Suncorp Stadium in 2012.

The Blues had been beaten by one of the greatest Queensland sides ever assembled thanks to a 40m field goal from Cooper Cronk in the 75th minute.

Right on full-time, the witch-hunt started and the pitchforks were directed squarely at Pearce and five-eighth Todd Carney. Fittler wanted to show them some support, and Pearce in particular, so he phoned me to make some very strong points.

“Mitch is only 23,” a bewildered Fittler said at the time. “We’re throwing the kid out at 23?”

Then phoned Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley, instructing them to call in some supporting comments. Now, eight years later as NSW coach, he’s showing similar belief in Cleary, who he has also made vice-captain.

“The scrutiny becomes very heavy but that’s the reality among NSW supporters because the state is shared among so many NRL teams,” Fittler said. “That’s always been the nature of NSW. You have to stand above that, back yourself and pick the players you’re happy to put the result on. I just trust him.”

Doubtless, some will ask why no loyalty was shown to five-eighth Luke Keary, who has been replaced by Cody Walker after making his Origin debut in the 18-14 loss in Origin I.

Johns told the Herald last week he wanted Cleary dropped for Walker and Keary retained. Pearce says he wouldn’t have made any changes.

“Nathan has been the best halfback all year and Luke has been the standout five-eighth for three years and won two comps in that time,” he said. “You can make an argument for both of them being the Australian halves if they were picking a side. I’d have stuck with them both. Good players like that turn it around. They’re the best players for the job at this time.”

Fittler says the decision to drop Keary had less to do with his performance and more about getting Walker’s energy into the team.

It also means Cleary will need to become the dominant half he was for the Panthers this year — and Maloney was for NSW in the last two series, which the Blues have won.

“I don’t know if Nathan’s reading articles or not — but I know I haven’t,” Fittler said. “The noise isn’t the problem. It’s getting the job done on the field. It’s about him stepping up and taking on the role of leading the team around.

“We’ve never had the chance to plan for the future because we’ve been getting smacked. Now is his chance to be better. He knows that. He’s up to it. It’s hard to do that in just a week, we’ve only had a few sessions, but that’s what needs to be done.”

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The key difference between Pearce and Cleary at this stage of their careers is that Cleary has played in two winning series while Pearce had not.

The comparison can be drawn between two very capable young halves still learning their trade as ballplayers in the code’s most scrutinised arena.

Many years of being the punching bag took its toll on Pearce, who finally got his hands on the Origin shield last year when he replaced the injured Cleary in game three.

“I look back now and I realise how young I was, trying to handle all of this,” he said. “I look back now and laugh. But, at the time, it’s ruthless.”

Thunk-thunk-thunk…

“It’s hilarious,” he continued. “If Nathan wins this week, people will be loving him again. That’s Origin.”