New South Wales State of Origin halves Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses search for the power of one

Australia Broadcast Center

19-05-2025

When it comes to sport Americans seem to have a turn of phrase for everything and one particular piece of Yankee wisdom hangs over the fresh New South Wales halves duo of Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses.
If you have two quarterbacks, they say, you really don't have one.
For a good while, the Blues didn't have one at all. The halfback jersey was a poisoned chalice, until Cleary and then Moses drunk deep, stood steady and asked for more.
Cleary has already played in that position for New South Wales more times than anyone except Andrew Johns and won more series as a halfback than anyone bar Johns and Ricky Stuart.
Moses's experience is less extensive, but his man-of-the-match showing in Melbourne and the way he plunged a dagger into Queensland's heart in Brisbane last year was proof he's made of the true steel.
As they prepare to play together for the first time, what faces them at Lang Park is a different challenge — how do a pair of the best and most dominant halves in rugby league find a way to fit together? They can both lead, but can they follow?
After a lifetime of learning the art and science of play-making, which is the hardest task rugby league has to offer, can they share a crown? How do two quarterbacks become one?
Both Cleary and Moses average a shade over 60 touches per game, putting them third and fourth for possessions among regular halves. It's been a long time since it was any other way for them, because they've been in command of every team they've played on for many years now.
Cleary hasn't had to play second fiddle since 2019, before the premierships and the dynasty and the Clive Churchill Medals. Back then, when he was still Penrith's prince and not quite it's king, he partnered James Maloney for club and state.
For Moses, you have to go back even further, close to a decade. But in his mind, there's no doubt as to where things will stand come Wednesday night.
"He's the seven. That excites me — I haven't done that since I was playing five-eighth at the Tigers in the early days," Moses said.
"It excites me to play with a dominant halfback, where I can just pick my opportunities."
Cleary sees it slightly differently, as more of a give-and-take. In his mind, one player does not necessarily need to overwhelm the other.
"It's an understanding, not letting our egos get in the way, doing what's best for the team at that time and having those discussions about what that looks like at certain times of the game," Cleary said.
"We both understand the game pretty well, so that will help, but it's all about complimenting each other."
The pair are different styles of halfbacks, but they share a versatility that should boost their combination.
Both are adept at playing both sides of the field and can operate equally well out of first and second receiver. Given the physical and direct nature of his play, Cleary is more known for his work in the former but much of his finest hour — the closing stages of the 2023 grand final — came in the latter as he took on more of a creative role following a shoulder injury to Jarome Luai.
Like so much of Penrith's recent glories, it was a showcase of his problem-solving abilities and relentless nature, which is what Moses admires most about Cleary.
"He competes on every play. He's the ultimate competitor, he's shown that his whole career," Moses said.
"It excites me, to play with a player like that who doesn't leave anything to chance out on the field."
Moses showed a similar ability to excel off the ball as recently as Parramatta's win over Newcastle last Friday. Two of his best moments of the night came in chasing kicks from halves partner Dylan Brown.
The first was for the opening try, when Moses flew through to claim a bomb. The second was for Zac Lomax's second score, when Moses tapped a kick back to create the chance for support players.
Overall, Brown had more touches than Moses on the night as the Eels scored the most points they have in a game all season.
Moses's presence, be it as the primary or secondary playmaker, also opens up the options for the Blues kicking game. It's what Cleary, whose boot is one of his best attributes and primary weapons, admires most about the Parramatta man's game.
"His kicking game, particularly his long kicking, is exceptional. I think it's the best in the game at the moment," Cleary said.
"But also his running game — he's pretty well-rounded, but those two stand out to me. His defence has also gone to another level as well, he gets in there and he's aggressive."
The nuts and bolts of the combination are still being tightened — at the time of writing, the Blues had only one training session under their belt — but if it can hold the side together, New South Wales will be staring a second consecutive series win right in the eye.
It's an accolade that would do much for both their legacies. Cleary hasn't played in a winning series in four years and as well as Moses played last year, his own Origin career is still just five games old — this will be the first time he's played in a series opener.
Getting there will require a different kind of skills to those they know so well and worked so hard to master.
For both Moses and Cleary, getting as much of the ball as they wanted exactly when they wanted it has been the solution to just about every problem rugby league has ever thrown at them.
They have learned to be great by learning to dominate but if they can learn to let go just a touch, to cede a bit of control, to trust someone who is so like them and wear their trust in return, they can be greater still.
It is hard to put your faith in the unfamiliar when faith in yourself has taken you so far but if Moses and Cleary can give up just a little, they can have it all.