‘Hate the Narrative’ 🧊 Loz credits Cleary for GREATEST Origin comeback — NSW Press Conference

[0:03] Oh, at halftime, yeah, we didn't play well in the first half at all. [0:10] Never really gave ourselves a chance. [0:15] Very happy, obviously, with the second half. [0:19] But, yeah, we just made too many errors out of yardage, [0:23] put ourselves under pressure, could do a lot of defending, [0:26] and then all of a sudden you get fatigued. [0:28] So, in Queensland, shot out to a lead. [0:31] But I'm just so happy with the boys. [0:33] They showed fight, and that's what you want to see. [0:36] It was kind of led by the same time. [0:44] Yeah, I thought all our guys actually lifted, and they needed to. [0:50] Yeah, it's, like, origins are all about fight, isn't it, you know? [0:55] You're never going to get too many opportunities [0:58] to put on plays that look good, which you might do in the NRL. [1:02] It's about fight, and it's about hunger, and it's about having a crack. [1:07] Obviously excited, and then they said, [1:17] oh, it's got to go to the video referee to be confirmed. [1:20] So, then you start to worry. [1:22] And then they sort of, they're hooked up so they can listen. [1:29] So, they're going, oh, they're checking front on, [1:31] and then you're sort of starting to doubt that it's going to be a try. [1:35] And then, as soon as it's awarded, yeah, your emotions are everywhere. [1:40] Emotions everywhere. [1:43] Isaiah, three years ago, and he ran that same, and history repeats tonight. [1:52] Does it dispel the narrative, and is his club mate and origin team mate just how? [1:56] Yeah, well, I don't buy into the narrative at all anyways, [2:00] but he's just thought it. [2:02] The moments tonight, he won. [2:03] So, 40-20 is massive, chasing points. [2:06] Comes up with a try there, and he was just a calm head. [2:09] He attacked the game, and I feel like he's done that in so many big games before. [2:12] So, it's not, it feels like it's not new for me. [2:15] But, yeah, I love to see him own those moments, [2:18] and I thought he was outstanding tonight. [2:20] When we needed him most, he stepped up and provided for us. [2:23] So, yeah, super stoked for him. [2:24] He's, yeah, I don't agree with some of the stuff that gets said, obviously. [2:27] But, yeah, he's no bigger fan than me. [2:29] Is that what you wanted to see from him, [2:30] especially with Mitch ruled out? [2:32] Yeah, not that I wanted to see it. [2:37] But, I'm like Yoey. [2:40] I just get disappointed with the narrative that he's driven. [2:44] He's a champion. [2:46] Still got a lot of footy left to play, [2:49] and, you know, he, it was reminiscent of the grand final. [2:54] Like, you know. [2:55] So, yeah, no, he was, he was phenomenal for us. [2:59] What at the centre? Obviously, your contest ball. [3:05] Oh, I'd rather not say. [3:09] Obviously, you're excited that he is. [3:11] Yeah. [3:17] So, it's important. [3:20] I think, I think it'll be easier, Bulldog, given our performance. [3:24] Because I thought, um, last year, game one, we actually played really good. [3:30] And, um, yeah, we, we, but tonight, I don't think we played anywhere near what we're capable of doing. [3:38] Um, so that, that, that probably puts us in a better frame of mind when we waltzed back into camp in game two. [3:45] Sorry, mate, honestly, I've got me, um, no, no, no, no, no. [3:54] I've got it blocked here. [3:55] Turn it off. [3:56] So, I can't, can't hear properly. [3:57] Yeah. [3:58] Yeah. [3:59] You've got some nice selection headaches, for want of a better term. [4:01] Haven't you? [4:04] Potentially coming, the players that are going in are exceptionally well. [4:06] Uh, yeah. [4:07] I, I mean, the, the guys that played tonight were exceptional. [4:11] So, yeah, you know what Oligin's like. [4:14] You just never know who's available. [4:15] So, you've just got to make sure, you know, you've got the right people and, um, they're playing well. [4:20] Yep. [4:21] Mitchell. [4:27] If Mitch. [4:28] Uh, yeah, I think Mitch, um, he's a big part of our team. [4:32] Yeah, no, he's a big part of our team, Mitch. [4:34] So, um, Hemi's, it's not, it's not a bad Hemi either. [4:39] Um, so, um, you know, we expect him to play and, you know, if he plays, um, you know, he'll be a part of the squad for sure. [4:47] Yeah. [5:03] Yeah. [5:07] And, and you're right, because they probably weren't in the plans, both of those guys, to be fair. [5:12] Um, but it gives you that ability. [5:15] We only used two players. [5:17] So, it gave us a bit more flexibility in the second half to decide who the two out of the four were going to be. [5:24] Um, and then Casey, um, was outstanding in his debut. [5:32] Um, and then Birdo, we just went, well, we needed, we needed points. [5:37] And we thought we'd get it from his running game, an opportunity through his running game. [5:41] Maybe to cause a line break or take a, a defender away from Nathan or something like that. [5:47] But he also had a weapon with the ball in the air. [5:50] So, if we needed it, we could put it in the air and challenge and see. [5:53] But in the end, it was Nathan who kicked it and, um, Teddy came down with a magical play. [5:59] Yeah. [6:09] Oh, yeah, no, I, I don't, don't feel vindicated. [6:12] Cause I know that Dylan would have been, um, outstanding. [6:15] It was a, it was a really hard call actually. [6:18] Um, cause Dill, um, is playing really well for Penrith. [6:22] And Teddy's playing well, um, for the Roosters. [6:24] So, it was just a, a gut feel that we thought that that was the way we were going to go. [6:28] Um, and Dill's still got a, a massive role, um, to play at origin, uh, when he gets another opportunity. [6:36] So, um, yeah, it's just one of those things. [6:39] We went with Teddy, um, and he, he played well for us tonight. [6:43] Um, well, super stoked for him, um, obviously. [6:56] But just, just one of those moments on a footy field that you just, I think you look back on fondly. [7:00] It's, I understand it's game one, but you certainly want to live in the moment. [7:03] And, um, it's just nice to Jag win like that in origin, in the origin arena, where, where things weren't going right for us in the first half. [7:08] It was our own doing and they were playing well, Queensland. [7:10] But yeah, to sort of be able to sort of scrap and fight your way back into the contest. [7:14] And then it's an easy one to sort of get so close and, and think you've done enough. [7:17] Whereas, it's probably we had a couple of players there. [7:19] Obviously, Nathan was outstanding in those moments. [7:22] Then Teddy to come up, um, the champion player he is to come up, um, in that, that moment there and seal it for us. [7:27] So, look, just super stoked for him, but just super stoked for the, not just the players, but the staff. [7:31] There's so much goes into it. [7:32] So, it's, um, yeah, you certainly, job's not done, but you, you enjoy the moment for sure. [7:37] Do you think how's your best to win? [7:38] Well, it's game one. [7:42] So, I'd much prefer that to the side or something like that. [7:45] But, no, look, it is. [7:46] You enjoy moments like that because it was a tough contest out there. [7:49] They had all the running in the first half and then, um, you get a little bit of luck in the, in the second half. [7:53] And just feel like we had players that just attacked it. [7:55] So, um, yeah, super stoked for, for the players and, and some of the performances there. [7:59] It's, yeah, certainly a, a really special night for the Blues supporters. [8:03] How much more special does it? [8:04] No, not really. [8:14] Yeah, it's not. [8:15] It's just, it's, there's so much difference to each series. [8:18] So, it's a, it's a hard one, but I think you sort of just, you don't worry about what's happened. [8:22] Like we, we obviously spoke about and discussed, uh, in January, February, things we needed to learn. [8:27] But then, ultimately, we've got new players. [8:29] We have six debutantes tonight. [8:30] So, they, they don't have to worry about that. [8:33] Like they just worry about playing your best game. [8:35] So, I, I think it's on the leaders there to make sure you learn the lessons there. [8:38] But yeah, I don't know. [8:39] Just, just, just really happy for the win. [8:53] Uh, no, is the short answer. [8:57] He was great. [8:58] Um, I think this group can, can be a lot better. [9:04] Um, and, you know, I, I was happy with, you know, everyone. [9:10] Uh, the way they fought. [9:12] I, I, I, they're, they're talented players. [9:15] So, we felt like we picked the right team. [9:21] So, um, I haven't lost faith in anyone. [9:24] So, yeah. [9:25] So, yeah. [9:26] How's Tolu? [9:29] Uh, yeah, he's okay. [9:30] He's okay. [9:31] He obviously copped one. [9:32] Um, and I, I thought he was brilliant tonight as well. [9:37] So, um, yeah. [9:38] I, I, I, I'm just, I, I'm really happy that we didn't play well, but we fought. [9:44] And I would have been, would have been happy. [9:47] Would have been not devastated. [9:50] But even if we didn't win, I would have taken a lot out of it. [9:55] Because they fought till the death. [9:56] And that's what you want. [9:57] In particular when you're down, because you can give it up quite easy. [10:01] And you can let the score line affect your performance. [10:04] But, um, it, it didn't happen. [10:07] So, I was, I was wrapped with that. [10:09] What about the mole, Loz? [10:10] You saw him come off there looking worried. [10:13] Yeah, I spoke to him after the game. [10:14] And he said that, um, he's just cramped. [10:16] He said he went to pick up a ball and his whole body cramped. [10:19] Um, so, tough conditions, obviously. [10:23] And, um, you know, he was, um, he was good for us when he was out there. [10:27] I don't want to put pressure on him, but, like, he's, he doesn't give you much either. [10:49] So, you, you won't get much from him. [10:51] But, um, the sky's the limit. [10:53] And you said, you showed that tonight. [10:55] It's obviously, it's a tough position. [10:56] You're sort of ninth man, probably thinking you're not going to get on. [10:59] All of a sudden you get thrown into it. [11:00] And that could, overall, a lot of people, not just a 20-year-old, [11:03] but that could, 30-year-olds could struggle in that environment. [11:06] Whereas he attacked it. [11:07] His first touch was a contested catch, running into the ball. [11:10] Um, so that would have given him a hell of a lot of confidence. [11:13] But, um, the sky's the limit for him. [11:14] You don't want to put pressure on him because he's still young [11:16] and he's still got to see all those things. [11:18] But I just thought the way you attack the game, like, it's, yeah, [11:21] that can be a tough environment for someone to go into. [11:23] And I was just super proud with how he attacked it. [11:25] Regardless of the outcomes on it, he was chasing after the game. [11:28] So, um, yeah, super stoked for him. [11:31] Um, yeah, it was. [11:40] I just felt it was starting to get a little bit of momentum. [11:41] Obviously, the send-off was big. [11:43] But I just felt it was starting to just gain a little bit of momentum [11:46] over that little period. [11:47] And then, yeah, Locker touched on this. [11:48] Some players had come up with some big moments there. [11:50] And so we just felt we were pretty good in the aspect [11:53] of we weren't losing our heads. [11:55] Like, we were moving the ball. [11:56] But then off the back of that, we were trying to play through them. [11:58] Like, we weren't just going shot for shot. [12:00] And then, yeah, ultimately, yeah, some players came up with some really big plays. [12:03] So, yeah, I like that fact that we were sort of able to stay as calm as we could [12:06] in the chaos where things certainly weren't going right for us in the first half. [12:09] That was our own doing. [12:10] But, yeah, to stay sort of present, that was nice. [12:13] Did you think it was? [12:16] Um, yeah, bias, as I think it's a send-off. [12:20] We've been on that side of it as well before. [12:22] It was a couple of years ago here as well. [12:25] So, yeah, I don't know. [12:27] It's bias. [12:29] Yeah. [12:31] It won't overshadow. [12:35] It won't overshadow. [12:36] Yeah, it won't overshadow internally. [12:37] It won't overshadow internally. [12:38] Like, yeah, I'm so proud of how we were able to sort of stay with that. [12:40] So, um, it won't overshadow the group we've got in there, so. [12:44] I think if you look through origin history, there's always been moments. [12:48] And there's always been wins like that. [12:51] Um, you take them. [12:53] You seem to enjoy it in the box. [12:56] I don't know how coaches do it full time. [13:01] I don't know how they do it week in, week out. [13:03] Thank you.