He’s taken all before him in his two years in the NRL but Nathan Cleary admits he faces a long and nerve-wracking Wednesday before State of Origin kick off.
Cleary stepped onto the MCG for the first time on Tuesday afternoon on his first ever visit to the ground, where he’ll make his debut in front of an anticipated 80,000 people on Wednesday night.
In doing so the 20-year-old will become the youngest Blues playmaker in a decade, and will enter the match with the shortest lead-in time of just five matches this season for a rookie half.
“It’s kind of all set in now, this is my first time being at the MCG,” Cleary said on Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s a pretty crazy ground but I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I was nervous the second I got the call about being in the team.
“They settled, but then last night was the first time I’ve properly thought about the game and now being here is pretty nerve-wracking. But I think tomorrow will be worse.”
Cleary’s job has become potentially easier with Billy Slater’s withdrawal to a hamstring complaint.
Slater’s speed makes him one of the best in the NRL at getting to kicks on the full, and his replacement Michael Morgan has played just three games at fullback in the past three-and-a-half years.
He’s also never played there at Origin level, but Cleary – like the rest of the Blues – insisted his game wouldn’t change at all as a result.
“Freddy said from the start that he wants us to focus on ourselves and not worry about Queensland too much,” Cleary said.
“He told us just to focus on getting our game right and put the team first with a selfless attitude which is important.
“Morgo is a great player and he will fill that void really well. I think anyone who pulls on that Queensland jersey just goes to another level. It doesn’t change too much.”