Nathan Cleary’s huge influence over the next generation of NRL halfbacks will continue on Friday evening when Zane Harrison debuts for the Gold Coast Titans.
Harrison, 20, has grown up idolising the Penrith playmaker – so much so that some Titans officials have noticed the youngster trying to mimic the kicking style of the four-time premiership winner, and the way he appears to casually float across the field.
An under-19s NSW Origin representative who grew up in Tweed Heads, Harrison’s first game comes a week after Joey Walsh made his starting debut for Manly, and a fortnight after Kade Reed, another unabashed Cleary fan, was handed the St George Illawarra No.7 jersey.
It was not that long ago that NSW halfbacks were hard to come by. But after 11 seasons in the NRL, Cleary, now 28, has inspired a legion of playmakers who could all one day be vying to succeed him in the Blue jersey.
Isaiya Katoa, 22, has regularly spoken about relishing the chance to work closely with Cleary at the Panthers before moving to the Dolphins to play first grade, while Canterbury’s Lachie Galvin, 20, had his management reach out to the Panthers about playing alongside Cleary when he first wanted out of the Wests Tigers.
There are also high hopes for Canterbury’s Mitch Woods, whose NRL debut has been delayed because of injury, Canberra’s Ethan Sanders, the 22-year-old playing regularly with the Raiders – and who goes up against Cleary on Sunday – along with up-and-comers Toby Rodwell, of the Roosters, and Parramatta’s Lincoln Fletcher.
Speaking about Harrison’s debut – and Cleary’s influence – ahead of the Titans clash against the Sydney Roosters on Friday evening, coach Josh Hannay told this masthead: “There hasn’t been a high volume of great halfbacks, the pickings have been quite slim, but Nathan has had that influence and reach on these kids where they’ve said, ‘I want to be just like him’.
“I wish it wasn’t that way, being a proud Queenslander. We don’t need another Nathan Cleary any time soon.
“I didn’t realise Zane was a NSW junior when I first got to the Gold Coast. When you hear ‘Gold Coast kid’, you just think he’s a Queenslander.”
Harrison gets his start at the expense of Lachie Ilias, one of several selection casualties following the Titans’ defeat to an undermanned Canberra side last weekend.
“But this decision to play him [Harrison] isn’t a reactive one based on our performance last week – it’s one where the timing feels right based on what he’s shown us for some time now,” Hannay said. “With Zane, I would have been comfortable giving him an opportunity sooner.
“I just hope everyone is respectful of the fact he’s a young kid on debut playing in a key position. He’s highly touted and will have a long career in this game, but it’s his first game of NRL. As I’ve explained to him, he’ll have some time up here [in first grade] to get his NRL feet beneath him.
“He doesn’t need to see this game as a ‘one-and-done’ type of situation where he needs to go out and show it all.
“There’s a lot to like. He has the temperament, character and toughness to go with the high level of talent. And he’s a great decision maker – the best playmakers in our game are the best decision-makers. He checks a lot of boxes.”
Reed was given his start against the Roosters on Anzac Day, but made no secret of the fact he had watched a lot of Cleary growing up.
“[I love] how calm and composed he always looks, and you can see how much success he has because of his preparation,” Reed said on Thursday.
“He can also control a game with his boot. I’ve definitely tried to take bits and pieces from his game to add into mine.”
Harrison, like Reed, will be kept busy against an in-form Roosters side who have had no problems scoring points, but have been guilty of clocking off for short periods in games.
Harrison has a huge admirer in Kieran Foran, who was at the Titans with him last year before retiring. Foran has since been appointed caretaker coach of Manly.
“Zane is a genuine halfback, he’s young, skilful, and really understands the game – he’ll have a big career,” Foran said.
