Latest news with #MitchellMoses
Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
NRL Rabbitohs v Warriors, Panthers v Eels, Roosters v Raiders: Live scores, updates, analysis
NRL Rabbitohs v Warriors, Panthers v Eels, Roosters v Raiders: Live scores, updates, SuperCoach analysis They led NSW to victory together, but now Origin halves Mitchell Moses and Nathan Cleary face off in the battle of the west. It comes after a Blues teammate was injured in the early game. FOLLOW LIVE
ABC News
4 days ago
- General
- ABC News
NRL live: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs New Zealand Warriors, Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels, Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders
After a brief trip home, the Warriors return to Sydney to try to get back in the winners' circle against the Rabbitohs. Later, NSW halves partners Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses face off in a Panthers' home game in Parramatta, before the Roosters face the Raiders. Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Cleary & Moses – ‘Shades of' dynasty
NRL: James Hooper and Braith Anasta were full of praise for Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses after steering the Blues to an Origin game one win.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Nathan Cleary's State of Origin struggles laid bare despite NSW Game 1 triumph
Nathan Cleary will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest halfbacks to ever play rugby league, but Wednesday's State of Origin performance has done little to change the narrative around his State of Origin credentials. Heading into this series there were discussions around not picking Cleary after Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai led the Blues to the Origin shield in 2024. However, in the end, he and Moses got the nod, with Luai the casualty, despite the crafty playmaker always being a top Origin performer. The same can't be said for Cleary, however. Despite winning four premierships in a row, Cleary still hasn't dominated a series like he has done at club level and has never won an Origin decider. And on Wednesday night, he was hardly a standout in what was a dominant Blues performance as they ran out 18-6 winners. In the player ratings column on Code Sports, Cleary was rated a 5/10. 'Had the classy double-pump for Zac Lomax's second try but it was another underwhelming display from the game's best halfback,' the column read in regards to Cleary. 'Even his trusty goalkicking betrayed him, and the late field goal attempt was bad. Busted eight tackles, but will he ever own Origin?' While Cleary struggled to assert his superiority on Wednesday night, his halves partner Moses was excellent in both attack and defence. The Eels star's kicking game, defensive reads and overall ball playing was solid, while Cleary's performance was what could be best described as rocks and diamonds, producing moments of brilliance and then others that were incredibly poor. Cleary has won four premierships in a row, claimed the Clive Churchill Medal twice, won a World Cup has been a part of three successful Origin campaigns and is on track for a fourth — but is yet to put together a memorable series display. And it is something that even his dad and club coach Ivan Cleary says the halfback must improve on if he is to be considered one of the best of all time. 'He's looking to improve. I know he can improve. He's only 26, he's had all that experience under his belt which he's been able to use to his advantage,' Cleary told Code Sports last year. 'But he's far from the finished product. He knows that. Probably the obvious one is Origin, he knows he wants to be more consistent in that area. He's had some good moments, but in other moments he knows he can step up there, or prove. Probably the whole team can, but he definitely can. He's still trying to work it out.' So why doesn't Nathan Clary have the same impact in Origin? State of Origin is arguably the highest-quality game on the NRL calendar. It features almost all of the best players in the league and sees the smallest mistakes routinely punished. Not only that but playmakers are under extra pressure and the game is played at a higher intensity. So Cleary, who at times looks like he has the ball on a string, is often the one put under the most pressure by rushing defenders. The 27-year-old also has strike weapons everywhere at his disposal at Origin level, which means running the ball is not the best option nine times out of ten. At clubland, he also touches the ball almost every tackle, whereas in Origin he shares the responsibility with several other superstars. That means the playmaker has fewer chances to have an impact. It is a different scenario when playing for Penrith where he regularly puts the team on his shoulders. Cleary knows to go down as an Origin great he must do more, but says he is more focused on just doing his job. 'At the end of the day I just want to put my best foot forward for the team and ensure we get a win,' he told ahead of Game 1. 'I don't think too much about being an Origin great, it's about putting my best foot forward at training and then in the Game 1 want to be at my best and elevate those around me.' However, despite his failure to be a standout performer, commentator Warren Smith defended Cleary, writing on X. 'This notion that Nathan Cleary is yet to 'own' #Origin is a fantasy football mentality gone mad. 'It's like thinking there's an agenda against Terrell May because his numbers were so good he had to be picked. 'Cleary was 8/10 last night & his team won. It's Origin, not SuperCoach.' But others were not convinced, labelling him 'overrated'. 'Another game where Nathan Cleary didn't dominate origin….,' one fan wrote. 'Another half of origin football that proves to me Nathan Cleary is vastly overrated outside of club footy,' another said. 'Why is it that every time Nathan Cleary wears NSW Blue he turns into Jack Cogger?' a third added.
ABC News
28-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
State of Origin five quick hits: Brian To'o's controversial sin bin, Jeremiah Nanai's huge tackle, and woeful kicking from Maroons and Blues stars
NSW replicated last year's heroics with another win over Queensland at Lang Park. The State of Origin opener had physicality, scuffles, drama and an unusually poor kicking display. Here are the five quick hits from an action packed Game One at Lang Park. Much like last year's match at Lang Park, points were at a premium in the first half. An early penalty goal from Nathan Cleary registered the only points on the board in the first 25 minutes of an Origin played at lightning speed. The defence from both Queensland and NSW was at a high level, and it needed a superstar to produce something special for the opening try. That superstar was NSW five-eighth Mitchell Moses. The star half of the Blues' series triumph last year produced the linebreak to set up the first four-pointer. Taking advantage of a staggered Queensland defensive line on the left flank, Moses put on a big sidestep and sliced through a gap. Only a desperate dive from Maroons' prop Moeaki Fotuaika stopped Moses from streaking away. But the damage was done. Cleary decided to run the ball on the final tackle, throwing the ball to Payne Haas, who in turn got an offload away that allowed the Blues to spin the ball to the open right flank. Outmanned and outgunned, Queensland could do nothing to stop the ball getting to winger Zac Lomax, who crossed over for the first try. On the spiritual turf of Queensland rugby league, the Blues dominated the first half, but Queensland got a desperately needed shot in the arm in the final 40 seconds. A Kalyn Ponga bomb was dropped by NSW winger Brian To'o, giving the Maroons a handful of plays to score. With the siren moments from sounding, Daly Cherry-Evans put up a high kick to the wing of To'o, with the much taller Queensland winger Xavier Coates chasing. Coates launched into the air but To'o, who was giving up several inches in height, grabbed the Maroons' flyer in the air and denied him a chance of catching the ball. Queensland pleaded for a penalty try to be awarded, but the incident took place before Coates got his hands on the ball, ruling out the chance of Queensland being awarded a certain six points. To'o was sent up the tunnel early, and left NSW with the task of playing the first 10 minutes of the second half with 12 men. But not everyone was convinced it was a professional foul, or even a penalty. Phil Gould, the former NSW coach, voiced his strong opposition to the decision. "I think it's a ridiculous exaggeration of the mid-air tackle rule," he said. "They're in the in-goal. They're fighting for the ball in possession. "I think that's a ridiculous interpretation of the rule. "And it's not a sin bin in an Origin match." What is Origin without drama? Down to 12 men, NSW defended stoutly in the opening exchanges of the second half. After a gang-tackle forced Valentine Holmes over the touchline, NSW thought they could breathe a sigh of relief. But Queensland second-rower Jeremiah Nanai had other ideas. NSW gave the responsibility of the first hit-up off their line to Latrell Mitchell, but Nanai flew in like a missile, hitting Mitchell in the rib cage and forcing the ball loose. The ball popped up into the arms of Cherry-Evans, who immediately threw the ball to debutant Robert Toia, who then got a flick pass to Coates. The Maroons' winger pinned his ears back, grounded the ball in the right corner, and brought Queensland back into the contest. Tight State of Origin matches are won on moments of brilliance. With a 14-6 lead, NSW had repelled multiple Queensland attacking raids. When it was time for the knockout blow, Connor Watson produced the moment that won the match. Clearly kicked for Lomax who leapt high, caught the ball and got the offload away. Watson, with the ball in his hands, ducked his head and went for the line. There were four Maroons there to stop him, but Watson never gave up on the play. He wrestled, and fought, and somehow got his arms free to get an offload to Dylan Edwards. Edwards grounded the ball to secure the win, and gave NSW a 1-0 series lead. For a match that showcased some of the very best in the game of rugby league, goal kicking was not an attribute on show. Cleary and Holmes kicked a penalty goal each, but none of the five tries scored were converted. Cleary, who has an NRL career goal kicking success rate of 84.42 per cent, never looked like making any of his kicks. It got so bad for the four-time premiership winner that he gave Zac Lomax a turn in the second half. Lomax could not do much better, as his one chance never threatened the post. Cleary also had a field goal attempt late, which also went wide of the uprights. "Queensland's lucky two of the best of all-time have had a shocker," ABC Sport caller Andrew Moore said. In the end, it was poor goal kicking that kept the score flattering for the Maroons.
