- Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould says Nathan Cleary is set to be named for the Panthers following the team’s round 16 bye in a huge boost to the defending premiers and potentially the Blues.
The Panthers No.7 has been out since picking up a hamstring strain in Penrith’s 16-10 win over the Bulldogs in round 10 and was reportedly set to miss the entirety of this year’s State of Origin series.
But the star halfback could come into contention for Game III as he is reportedly set to be named in the Panthers side for round 17. Gould says Cleary is back training and would have been named in the Panthers team next week if they weren’t on the bye. Cleary’s recovery is well ahead of schedule, with the star playmaker originally understood to be targeting a round 19 return.
This would theoretically mean he has two opportunities – against the Cowboys and Broncos in rounds 17 and 18 – to impress Blues coach Michael Maguire before he names his Blues side for Game III in Queensland.
Phil Gould believes Nathan Cleary will play for the Blues in Game III
Last year, a hamstring injury ruled Cleary out of Origin II and III and Gould believes as long as he gets through his next two matches unscathed he will be picked for the potential Origin decider in Brisbane. “If he got one (match) under his belt before game three, you’d certainly be picking him,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus.
