Cleary shortcoming flagged in wrestle with DCE

2 years ago 110

As Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary grapple for Australia's halfback spot astatine the Rugby League World Cup, Kangaroos large Paul Gallen has raised 1 interest surrounding the Penrith No.7.

Gallen has nary uncertainty Cleary is "the champion halfback successful the competition", but he's wary of the Test rookie's undeveloped operation with five-eighth Cameron Munster.

Conversely, Cherry-Evans and Munster person played ample footy unneurotic successful the halves for Australia and Queensland, and reunited arsenic the Kangaroos smashed Fiji 42-8 successful Leeds connected Sunday greeting (AEDT).

Gallen besides believes it would beryllium "harsh" if Cherry-Evans mislaid the mantle little than six months aft captaining the Maroons to a State of Origin bid triumph.

"Do they person capable clip to physique a operation betwixt Cleary and Munster?" Gallen said connected Wide World of Sports' 2GB radio.

"Or bash they instrumentality with Cherry-Evans and Munster due to the fact that they person that Origin combination?

"I'm not excessively sure."

Gallen revisited the Australian squad helium selected connected Nine's 100% Footy in September, which had Munster astatine five-eighth, Cleary astatine halfback and Cherry-Evans arsenic the seat utility.

Phil Gould besides picked Munster and Cleary arsenic his halves, but opted for Ben Hunt arsenic his No.14 and snubbed Cherry-Evans.

"Cherry-Evans has played that 14 relation rather a bit, peculiarly erstwhile helium archetypal started Origin erstwhile the likes of Johnathan Thurston were inactive around. He played that 14 relation and did truly good astatine it," Gallen said.

"But I deliberation erstwhile you look astatine however Ben Hunt played connected the play (against Fiji) ... past evidently Harry Grant came connected and helium was perfectly dynamic. I deliberation they've astir apt got those positions sewn up, those two.

"To permission Cherry-Evans retired of the broadside totally, the Queensland skipper aft winning the series, I deliberation would beryllium harsh.

"But, arsenic I said, I bash deliberation Cleary is the No.1 halfback successful the satellite astatine the infinitesimal and does merit to get that Australian spot."

Australia volition proceed its World Cup defence successful a clash with Scotland successful Coventry connected Saturday morning.

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