The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis has delivered a scathing review on the performance of NSW halfback Nathan Cleary.
At 25 years of age, Cleary has already achieved success in the club, country and state arenas but the biggest knock on his career has been his inability to truly dominate a State of Origin series.
After a devastating 26-18 loss to Queensland in Game I and several issues in attack for the Blues, Carayannis believes the blame falls on Cleary.
“Nathan Cleary has escaped a lot of criticism,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“He was woeful (on Wednesday night) and if that was Mitchell Pearce or Mitchell Moses, people would be shouting from the rooftops calling for his head.
"Cleary didn’t man up and he is one of the Blues’ big game players.
“He just failed when they needed him to deliver.
“He will be picked for Game II but his performances in Origin for mine have been very underwhelming.
“He hasn’t grabbed a series and if you matched him with his record on Daly Cherry-Evans, Cherry-Evans (has outplayed him).
"They had a lot of ball and a lot of territory (but) the criticism needs to be on the one in the seven (jersey).”
Carayannis was also critical of captain James Tedesco and the two starting debutants in Hudson Young and Tevita Pangai Junior for NSW.
The pair had little impact on the game for NSW and made costly errors at crucial moments during the match.
“The two debutants were completely underwhelming,” Carayannis added.
“Young played 31 minutes and Pangai Junior played 20 mins in the first half and 11 minutes in the second half with that unforgettable offload.
“Nicho Hynes then comes on late and misses a crucial tackle on Cameron Munster.
“The debutants didn’t have a great performance.”
NSW now face the impossible task of leveling the series at Suncorp Stadium on June 21.
