True Blue Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach believes Nathan Cleary will earn a Test debut with the Australian Kangaroos at the end of the year but admits incumbent halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has done enough to keep hold of the No.7 jumper.
Cleary has been in scintillating form during the 2020 NRL season and has steered the Penrith Panthers to first place on the competition ladder after 12 rounds.
He has stepped up as the Panthers’ chief playmaker following the departure of representative star James Maloney and many have predicted he may dethrone Cherry-Evans as the Kangaroos’ halfback.
Roach believes Cleary’s form has warranted a place in the Australian side but added Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga’s loyalty to his players could see him forced to another position.
“I reckon he’ll be in the 17, put it that way,” Roach said on Behind Blue Eyes.
“Probably Daly Cherry-Evans deserves to stay there (at halfback) again. He hasn’t done anything wrong since he’s had that Australian jumper.
“Mal (Meninga) is a pretty loyal bloke, but if he is playing like that he’ll be in the 17 somewhere.
“He could play in a lot of positions too, and he’s one of the biggest halfbacks I’ve seen.
“At the moment if you were picking the team, I would probably stick with Cherry-Evans (at halfback).
“But in saying that, if he got the job, he wouldn’t let anyone down and it would be his (jersey) for a long time.”
Cleary's Panthers will be searching for their eighth consecutive victory when they host the Canberra Raiders in Round 13 on Saturday night.