Nathan Cleary, the Penrith superstar, has made a heartfelt admission about the anguish of last week’s State of Origin defeat by Queensland.
The 27-year-old half-back, who was criticized by fans for his performance during the Origin decider, revealed that he might not ever fully get over the loss.
In a candid conversation, Cleary explained that he had used the defeat as an opportunity to analyze his own game, rather than trying to brush it off.
“I don’t know if you ever fully get over it,” Cleary said after Sunday’s match. “But I came to the conclusion that it’s only going to help me grow as a person and a player.”
Cleary’s comments came after he starred for Penrith in their 32-10 victory against the Eels, scoring a try in the 71st minute of the match.
Despite the defeat, Cleary saw it as a chance to learn and improve, and his dad, Ivan, played a significant role in helping him process his emotions.
“A long conversation with my dad made me feel a lot better,” Cleary explained. “In the past, I’ve probably just tried to squash it and act like it didn’t happen. This time, I saw it as an opportunity to analyze it a bit more and try and delve deeper into why I didn’t perform the way I wanted.”
Cleary’s performance on Sunday was a testament to his character, as he bounced back from the disappointment of the Origin defeat to lead the Panthers to victory.
Penrith’s win sees them keep pace with the rest of the top eight in sixth place, and Cleary’s determination to learn from his mistakes will only make him a stronger player in the long run.