Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has a lot of regrets from Sunday night’s NRL grand final loss but throwing that pass is not one of them.
With the Panthers on the attack late in the first half, Cleary paid the price for a looping cut-out pass deep inside Melbourne’s half, with winger Suliasi Vunivalu intercepting, stumbling and then sprinting 80 metres to set up a 16-point lead.The intercept was obviously a turning point,” a distraught Cleary said after the match. “I saw it. I saw Brenko Lee shoot out of the line, that is why I threw it, I just didn’t execute it well enough.
If I had my time again I would do it again and I’m glad that I saw it and went with it, I just didn’t execute it which is what you need to do on the biggest stage.”
The 22-year-old said he blamed himself for the defeat but said all he could do now was learn from the experience.
The 22-year-old said he blamed himself for the defeat but said all he could do now was learn from the experience.
I just keep thinking back to the game and things I’d like to have back and what not, that feeling will be with me for a while now.
Cleary now has the difficult task of throwing himself into the State of Origin arena, with game one little more than a week away.
Fittler is confident Cleary will bounce back from the grand final loss for the NSW Blues, pointing to the support the playmaker will have when it comes to kicking duties.
We’ve got four kickers — Penrith have one,” Fittler said. “Our halves kick, our centres kick, our fullback can kick. If you focus on one player, and charge out at him, he can pass the ball knowing that they [Queensland] will get destroyed
NSW coach Brad Fittler has vowed to take care of the regret-riddled half.
“I just can’t wait to start playing again next year and try to get back to the highest stage but do it differently this time.”
