Queensland legend Darren Lockyer has suggested Nathan Cleary holds the key to New South Wales winning the State of Origin decider next week.
The series, currently tied 1-1, heads to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium with the Blues not having won a decider at the venue since 2005.
After being stunned in the series-opener, Brad Fittler’s side found its mojo in game two, with Cleary scoring two tries and going eight from eight on conversions in a 44-12 win in Perth.
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The results of the first two games of the series are evidence it’s vital for Queensland to curtail Cleary’s influence, according to Lockyer.
“I think it highlights that what we did in game one by taking away Nathan Cleary’s time and space had a big impact on (the result),” he told Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.
“We saw (in game two) if he does get time and space what he’s capable of. You’ve got to win those little effort areas in the ruck.
“You’ve got to slow the play-the-ball down, not illegally, but just be good with your contact and control that ruck area so you’ve got line speed against their key players.
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“If you look at the two deciders they’ve won – 1994, Ricky Stuart was the halfback and 2005 with Andrew Johns – so you would say that Nathan Cleary’s on the trajectory to be in that company.
“For me, that’s probably where they (NSW) draw their confidence from, but I also think that’s the opportunity for us. If we do our job against him (Cleary) and make his life difficult, then that goes a long way towards winning.”
Fittler has attempted to inspire the current crop of Blues by bringing in members from the last two teams to have won deciders in Queensland, with players from both the 2005 and 1994 NSW squads joining the Blues camp, including Benny Elias, Nathan Hindmarsh and Mark Gasnier.
Fittler played all three games in the 1994 series, which saw the Blues claim a 27-12 win at Lang Park in game three, while Buderus captained the Blues in the 2005 series in which the team won 32-10 at Suncorp.
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Elias, who was the hooker on the 1994 team, admitted that the Blues faced an uphill task trying to close out this year’s series.
“It’s tough stuff up here. Suncorp Stadium is not an easy walk in the park, I can assure you,” he told 9News Sydney.
“They certainly let you know it up here, they won’t leave anything on the table.”