How the master and the future of NSW led a stunning comeback

May 28, 2026 — 10:27am

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When big games are on the line, there is nothing like the poise of a football coach’s son.

And the Blues had two of these skilful scions to help them turn Queensland’s 20-point lead in the opening State of Origin at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night into a 22-20 NSW win.

Halfback Nathan Cleary is the son of four-time premiership Penrith coach, Ivan, while five-eighth Ethan Strange is the son of NSW’s victorious women’s Origin coach, John. Both 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.

Cleary’s 40/20 kick set up field position for a try he scored to narrow Queensland’s lead to 20-16 with less than 10 minutes left. He then launched the towering bomb which tumbled from the sky and allowed fullback James Tedesco to level the scores with 90 seconds left. Cleary’s conversion secured the win.

As Blues captain and Cleary’s Penrith co-skipper, Isaah Yeo said after the game, “That 40/20 won us the game.”

Cleary was voted man of the match. That should subdue the critics who say he has not made Origin his own.

Strange, drafted........

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