Knights possible Origin players and who to replace them with

If both Cleary and pearce are picked, Freddy is just setting pearce up for failure.
If you want to pick pearce you’ve got to give him the keys and put runners around him.
 
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I hope he doesn't get picked so it doesn't derail our series... seriously I don't really care about Origin anymore and would rather focus and have fit players for the season.
If he plays well and they win it could take his game to another level in club land. It's if they lose and he cops it again that has me worried
 
If he plays well and they win it could take his game to another level in club land. It's if they lose and he cops it again that has me worried

That's what worries me the most, he is going to cop the blame for a loss no matter what.

He has been copping it for years even though we all know it wasn't his fault for the losses, I mean look at the QLD team that NSW was up against..
 
Nah, I get the impression that he's at peace with it. If it happens, then great. If not, he has a very successful career with the Roosters to look back on for validation. He looks hungry playing for us, so clearly that's his focus moving forward. Origin is just a bonus (for a win) or a hurdle (for a loss).
 
What's the point of picking Cleary?
The team would play a lot better with Walker, Maloney or Wighton next to Pearce.
 
What's the point of picking Cleary?
The team would play a lot better with Walker, Maloney or Wighton next to Pearce.

I'd say Freddy would want Peace to show Cleary how its done so cleary becomes better for the future series.
Cleary came out of the blocks slammed 1st 2nd 3rd gear in the nrl then hit 4th gear but hasnt found 5th yet.
I think a lot of what Brown said about Cleary is right, his a relaxed player but isnt a 7 yet.
 
Would be good to see Pearce finally win a series now the he's not playing against the Australian rep side
I say wait after results for game 2 and if things are still bad with Cleary drop him for Pearce for game 3
The thing is Cleary stats for his origin are 0 try 0 try assist 0 line breaks if that was Pearce in the past, he be burnt all over the papers
Its crazy that people saying Cleary needs a mature playmaker with him, if that's the case why he playing at elite level?? SOO you have to go that extra gear if he cant do the job then find someone else simple
 
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I honestly like Cleary but these people have their blinkers on when they watch him play, a few people are now starting to have the balls to call him out, he's a good young player but at this stage in his career he's very limited and is struggling with his game. Some credit must be given to him for the fact he's still competing hard and playing ok compared to other young playmakers the same age as him like Taylor and Croft who have fallen off a cliff, but he shouldn't be anywhere near this NSW side at this point in his career, especially in the current form he is in.

The people who support Cleary blame everyone else around him and want to change everyone else in the side before they'd lay any blame on him or even think about dropping him. It's the Penrith forwards fault that Cleary is playing crap or it's Maloney's fault or it's Walker's fault that Cleary's kicking game was off in game I, we should drop Walker to and bring back Maloney to help Cleary, honestly I reckon these people would have Tedesco or Cook dropped before they drop Cleary.

It's either Pearce or Cleary not both IMO, as you blokes have pointed out if we lose it will be Pearce's fault not Cleary's and personally I don't think Nathan will complement Mitch at all. I honestly don't know what people think Cleary brings to the side apart from good goal kicking.

As a Knights' fan I hope they don't pick him, but as a Blues fan I think they have to pick him, but not with Cleary.
 
I reckon they just don't want to drop Cleary because it will be seen as burning another young halfback & destroying his career. But at the same time they also want to win so need a dominant player in Pearce to come in. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like the best combo however you're kidding yourself if you think Pearce's natural style of play of gonna take a back foot to Cleary, Cleary is a kid, he'll be forced into a five-eighth like role. The only concern is if the coaches tell Pearce to share the role, or if Pearce starts to care too much about his halves partner again like he did with Ponga at the start of the year.
 
Think Cleary may be more of a 5/8 than half, I don’t have a problem with him shifting as long as have a experienced half such as Pearce, except for him most other 6 or 7 are injured, out of form or lack experience. Mistake NSW/Fittler made was not having two experienced ones for first SOO, pressure is more so now as loss is series gone. Need two strong props on bench as well as starting
 
I am with you Frank. Cleary needs a good solid playmaker inside him who is prepared to take on the line and control play. Look how successful Maloney was alongside Cleary because he called the shots. At Club level I think Dad has tried to make Nathan the dominant half with disastrous results for the Pennies.
 
I am with you Frank. Cleary needs a good solid playmaker inside him who is prepared to take on the line and control play. Look how successful Maloney was alongside Cleary because he called the shots. At Club level I think Dad has tried to make Nathan the dominant half with disastrous results for the Pennies.

Maloney has always been at 6 for the Panthers,
Cleary in turning into the new Mullen, has all the attributes to be fantastic but isnt given the time to grow into it before being dumped with high pressure from everyone expecting it now.
 
Saifiti will be a controversial pick but we all know what he is capable over and he will go after the likes of Maguire. Great reward for Dan too his carried our pack for a number of years now.
 
Don’t think saifitis form warranted it currently.
Had one super good game last week but hasn’t been state of origin level consistent.
Blues are looking a little thin
 
Dan will get a massive amount out of it.
He'll probably play short minutes off the bench and be asked to go hard for as long as he can.
Just spending time in camp will take his game to a new level.
 
Dan will get a massive amount out of it.
He'll probably play short minutes off the bench and be asked to go hard for as long as he can.
Just spending time in camp will take his game to a new level.
Will be great for him , Jake named for Fiji.
 
Dan is being aggressive defensively, but his running lately has been so lacklustre, can't actually remember the last time he made 100m+
 
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