Huge Nathan Cleary decision looms after legend's World Cup claim
NRL legend Greg Alexander has thrown his support behind Nathan Cleary to remain as the Kangaroos halfback after a dominant performance against Scotland at the World Cup.
The Penrith Panthers star emphasised his credentials to become Mal Meninga's first-choice halfback after scoring 28 points on debut in Coventry.
'MADNESS': Kangaroos dragged into 'abysmal' World Cup farce
'CHAMPION': James Graham's emotional moment with junior club
Cleary was one of six debutants named by Meninga for Friday's match, and he wasted little time making an impact as the Kangaroos put Scotland to the sword.
Watched by his father Ivan, the Penrith playmaker kicked 12 goals from 15 attempts, had three try assists and scored a try of his own.
He fell just short of Andrew Johns' Kangaroos record of points for a debutant (30 v South Africa, 1995) as Scotland were torn to pieces from the first minute to the last in front of a rain-soaked crowd of 10,276 at Coventry Building Society Arena.
Despite Cleary's game against an underwhelming Scotland outfit, Daly Cherry-Evans' claim as the incumbent before the tournament still carries weight.
The Manly halfback shares an Origin combination with Cameron Munster and could still have one more chance to fight for the jersey.
However, Penrith great Alexander doesn't think there is any doubt anymore to who deserves the role.
Looking ahead to the likely semi-final showdown against New Zealand - which some believe is Australia's hardest game - Alexander called for Meninga to call on Cleary for the blockbuster.
“I think Cleary is the number one option … after what he’s done, I think Nathan Cleary deserves to be the number seven on the back of his form for the last two years,” Alexander said on SEN.
“We haven’t played international football since 2019. Since 2019, Cleary’s gone to a Grand Final, won two Grand Finals, won an Origin series – didn’t win this year’s Origin series, but that didn’t mean he played poorly.
“Queensland beat New South Wales in the decider by six points or eight points, so it was a tight series.
“Cleary was fantastic in Game II, so an incumbency really doesn’t mean much because it’s that long ago; it’s three years ago.”
Cleary's backers have grown and grown with Braith Anasta claiming last week that if the Penrith star had a solid game against Scotland, he couldn't see Cherry-Evans wrestling the jersey back.
Cameron Munster backs Nathan Cleary combination
Daly Cherry-Evans was rested for the game with the Scots and Meninga said the usually reserved Cleary would now feel like he belonged in the squad.
Munster by contrast is one of this squad's more outgoing characters and said he hoped Cleary would feel emboldened by his debut.
"I am trying to warm him up a little bit," Munster said.
"We're rooming together for the next couple of days so I'll try and get him out of his shell.
"I feel like he's a calm kid and not much gets under his skin."
But Munster said he had yet to be approached by Meninga for his opinion on who the Kangaroos' first-choice halfback should be, arguing that would be an unwise move.
"If you start asking me for opinions and guidance you know we're going backwards," he said.
"I want to take a backward seat and let Mal take care of his thing."
with AAP
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
