Pearce set to return if Cleary sits out decider
MITCHELL Pearce is expected to get a State of Origin SOS as NSW sweat on the fitness of halfback Nathan Cleary ahead of their series-deciding clash with Queensland on July 10.
Cleary sustained a suspected syndesmosis ankle injury in the 38-6 thumping of the Maroons in Perth on Sunday.
The result levelled the series at 1-1, and handed NSW all the momentum heading into the decider in Sydney.
But Cleary’s injury put a dampener on NSW’s win.
Cleary played under duress for the final 10 minutes of the first half after an awkward tackle and failed to take the field in the second half.
The 21-year-old was in a moon boot after the match, with scans to determine the extent of the damage. With just 16 days until game three, Cleary faces a monumental task to prove his fitness.
His possible absence for Game Three would almost certainly bring former Blues No.7 Pearce back into contention.
The Newcastle star ruled himself out of selection contention for Sunday’s game because of a thigh injury but will have the chance to become a Blues hero if Cleary doesn’t come up for the decider.
NSW centre Tom Trbojevic scored three tries in Sunday’s rout, while five-eighth James Maloney set up two tries, kicked five goals, and also shifted to halfback once Cleary went down.
“Tommy was great. He’s just a superstar,” Fittler said.
“And James got us the win. He just steered us around.
“I didn’t have to talk at halftime because he was talking. He’s just a winner. He just finds a way to win.”