NRL great floats Origin conspiracy theory after NSW Blues' poor kicking

News.com.au

7 days ago

The NSW Blues won by 12 points, but it could have been an even bigger blowout if not for some shoddy kicking.
In the end the Blues missed all four conversions with Nathan Cleary responsible for the first three before Zac Lomax took over the duties and sprayed wildly with the final conversion attempt of the match.
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While Cleary could be given a bit of a reprieve for his kicking with most of his attempts coming from a difficult angle, it was an unusual sight for a player of his ilk to be missing so badly.
It's what left Andrew Johns believing something greater was at play.
The NRL legend and former sharpshooting kicker believed the ball being used in the Origin opener was completely different and said even the graphics on the ball could have been a cause for the wayward display.
'I'm going to ask Nathan if the balls were a little bit different,' Johns said.
'Even the sound of the ball when they were kicking it just sounded different.
'Mitchell Moses kicked one in the end goal, he never gets that wrong.
'Sometimes they are a little bit fatter, maybe the graphics on the ball whether that changes it.
'Zac Lomax, he missed it by a mile.'
Johns then ventured down into the victorious Blues rooms where he spoke with Nathan Cleary and looked to get the Panthers star on board with his conspiracy.
'Watching from afar, even the sound of the ball kicking it just sounded different. Was it more your plant foot on the slippery ground when you were kicking or did you just 'F' up?' Johns asked.
Cleary laughed before overlooking the potential theory surrounding the ball, insisting the misses were all his own fault.
'The last one I kicked it was definitely just an F up. But I don't know I think I'll reflect on that and I think there was just a bit going on in my brain,' he said.
'I had so many things I wanted to do. But I've thought about being back in this arena so often and so many things I wanted to do.
'Sometimes you just need to calm down a bit and just go through the processes.'
While Cleary owned his poor kicking, Blues coach Laurie Daley was keen to poke fun at the Panthers star during his press conference.
After being asked if he'd have to hold a kicking competition at the next training camp, Daley turned to Blues skipper Isaah Yeo.
'Yeah I think it's Yeoy's job to get him right,' Daley said.
'Well it's a good day to have off isn't it.
'I don't know Nath that well because I haven't worked with him, but just to see the way that he prepares I know that would be burning him and I know that he won't be like that again.
'He'll do whatever it takes … he'll be right.'
Despite Cleary's kicking woes, the Blues ultimately made light work of their rivals as they ran in four tries to one in enemy territory.
It's the first time since 1997-98 that NSW have won consecutive games at Suncorp Stadium, proving Queensland's fortress holds no fear for this current Blues squad.
It's also the first time since 2005-06 NSW have won three Origin games in a row.
Andrew Johns said on Nine: 'This hasn't been a 12-point win. They have been far, far superior. The scoreboard flatters Queensland.'
The Blues will look to wrap up the series when Game 2 gets underway on June 18 at Perth's Optus Stadium.