Cleary in Joey dreamland

ONLY a few days ago, Blues boy wonder Nathan Cleary was watching old State of Origin footage of Andrew Johns on YouTube.

Yesterday, the gun NSW playmaker was swapping notes with the Blues’ greatest halfback.

Safe to say you’re in a dream, Nathan?

“I still watch his (Johns) highlights now and so to be learning off him, is pretty unbelievable,’’ Cleary smiled.

“I never thought this day would come.’’

Johns’ touch of class will be sprinkled all over the Blues’ halves on Wednesday night at the MCG after rugby league’s eighth Immortal got handson for the first time with Cleary and five-eighth James Maloney.

The Sydney Olympic Park tutorial was a dream come true for the younger Cleary, who in recent days has turned to watching replays of Johns’ famous 2005 Origin comeback for NSW, as a source of inspiration. Cleary was seven when Johns tore Queensland apart in the 2005 Origin II master class.

“That’s probably my favourite game I’ve ever watched,’’ Cleary said. “I only watched it the other day.”