How the master and the future of NSW led a stunning comeback
Nathan Cleary and Ethan Strange played pivotal roles in NSW's comeback victory against Queensland in the State of Origin opener. The duo, both sons of prominent coaches, utilized their experience to turn a 20-point deficit into a 22-20 win. Cleary's crucial plays included a 40/20 kick and a game-winning conversion, earning him the man of the match title.
- ▪Nathan Cleary and Ethan Strange helped NSW overcome a 20-point deficit to win 22-20 against Queensland.
- ▪Cleary's 40/20 kick set up a crucial try, while his conversion secured the victory.
- ▪Ethan Strange, drafted into the team shortly before the match, made significant contributions including a key tackle that led to a try.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-28T02:27:15Z","datePublished":"2026-05-28T02:27:15Z","description":"Nathan Cleary and Ethan Strange made crucial plays at critical times on Wednesday night, employing lessons learned from sitting in hundreds of half-time dressing rooms ruled by their fathers.","headline":"How the master and the future of NSW led a stunning comeback","keywords":"State of Origin, NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons, Just in, Analysis","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Roy Masters","jobTitle":"Sports…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.