Nathan Cleary has yet to win an Origin decider and if he can do so in Brisbane he enters the esteemed company of Andrew Johns and Ricky Stuart.
Nathan Cleary can take his career to new heights if he succeeds where a generation of NSW halfbacks have failed and wins a State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
That's the view of Blues great Andrew Johns who, along with Ricky Stuart, remains the only NSW No. 7 to have clinched a series in Brisbane.
Cleary comes into Origin III in fine form and has a chance to enter the rare air shared by Johns (2005) and Stuart (1994) if he tastes victory on Wednesday night.
The Penrith halfback's Origin career has always been the subject of scrutiny and he is yet to win game three with the series on the line.
But it was Cleary's man-of-the-match performance in game two in Perth which got the Blues to this point and now it's all up to the halfback.
"It (a win in Brisbane) will elevate him to superstar status," Johns told the Nine Network.
"I've been on the record saying, Nathan, what he's doing now at age 24 in this arena - no halfback has done that.
"No one has owned Origin like he did in that second half (in game two).
"(If) he goes up there and dominates and plays well, he elevates himself beyond superstar status which he was very close to with that performance in the second half."
Cleary is 13 games into his Origin career and only got his first try when he scored a double in Perth.
Last month Cleary conceded he was yet to master the art of staying "composed when everything around you is erratic and going crazy" and that will be put to the test in Brisbane.
Johns described the feat of winning at Suncorp as "the greatest challenge you can have as a New South Welshman" and warned the Blues of the fevered reception they would receive.
"When you run out on the field, it's the only place I've ever experienced where the atmosphere actually hits you like a sonic boom," he said.
"It actually hits you, the screaming of a crowd. The day of the game is so hard because you don't want to leave the hotel and you've got to wait around all day.
"It's very intimidating, but the older you get, it's so challenging."
