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AAP
AAP
Sport

RL:It's subjective whether I've 'owned' Origin: Cleary

Origin Nathan Cleary Penrith NSW (Organization) NRL

Nathan Cleary says it's a matter of opinion whether he has truly "owned" the State of Origin arena, after shaking off personal selection doubts to earn the nod for NSW again.

There were times after last year's game-three decider that even the NRL's best player thought he might be left out of Laurie Daley's team sheet for Origin I of 2026.

For the third time in his career, Cleary in 2025 had been the halfback tasked with leading the Blues in a game-three decider.

And for the third time, the Penrith co-captain came up short.

Cleary has played in three series wins and won player of the match twice among 17 appearances for the Blues.

But his record in game-three deciders has led to long-standing media commentary that he has yet to "own" the Origin arena the way he has dominated the NRL since Penrith's resurgence in 2020.

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