LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Allan Langer, recognized as Queensland's greatest halfback, has commented on the challenging decision facing Kangaroos selectors regarding Nathan Cleary and Tom Dearden for Australia's halfback position in the upcoming Ashes series.
While Cleary is often considered the premier No.7 in rugby league, he was notably outperformed by Dearden during the recent Origin series, where Dearden led Queensland to a come-from-behind victory after stepping in for Daly Cherry-Evans.
Despite Cleary's impressive achievements-winning four consecutive premierships with Penrith and a World Cup with Australia-his performance in the Origin series has raised questions.
He holds an 8-9 record with NSW, including three losses in deciders.
This has sparked speculation that Dearden could take Cleary's spot as Australia's No.7 for the end-of-season Test series against England.
Langer has noted the comparisons between Dearden and Queensland greats and expressed admiration for Dearden's performance, which earned him the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series.
"He's heading in the right direction," Langer stated.
He believes Dearden has a legitimate shot at replacing Cleary, adding, "I'm sure we're going to see a lot more of Tommy Dearden and a lot more games for Queensland as well."
The former champion acknowledges that the next Kangaroos coach will have a difficult task choosing between the two playmakers, emphasizing that their performances in the remainder of the season will play a significant role in the decision.
Langer mentioned that injuries could also impact the selection process.
"We'll just wait to see at the end of the year because I know Tommy Dearden would be chomping at the bit to get the green and gold jersey and I know he'll never let anyone down," he remarked.
"And Nathan Cleary is in the same boat.
Penrith are going to come good again I'm sure.
They're in the top-six at the moment so I think anyone coming up against Penrith in the finals is in for a tough job."
In summary, Allan Langer has put additional pressure on Nathan Cleary by endorsing Tom Dearden as a potential replacement for the national team, setting the stage for an intriguing competition between the two talented halfbacks as the season progresses.