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A week after making his memorable NSW Origin debut, Panthers youngster Casey McLean returned to one of his junior clubs in Sydney’s west, and answered all sorts of funky questions from the children now aspiring to be just like him.
McLean and New Zealand Warriors’ cult hero Dallin Watene-Zelezniak were mobbed by more than 600 kids at Peppertree Reserve, the home of the St Clair Comets who play in the Penrith juniors.
The love and attention for McLean among the kids is something he might want to get used to.
The 20-year-old did well to keep a straight face when hearing one of the first questions fired at him.
“Casey, do you prefer NSW or Queensland?,” the young player asked confidently, and innocently.
“Ummmm, New South Wales,” McLean said with a smile.
Who was your favourite club growing up?
“I loved the New Zealand Warriors; I loved Manu Vatuvei, then I loved watching Shaun Johnson.”
Who is your favourite player?
“Brian To’o.”
Toughest player you play against?
“Kotoni Staggs and Stephen Crichton.”
Your favourite coach?
“My dad, he taught me everything I know.”
And your favourite memory playing with St Clair?
“Beating St Marys.”
McLean was injected into Origin I last month after winger Tolu Koula was flattened by Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga in the 57th minute.
Those next 23 minutes have changed McLean’s life as the young Panther made a strong impression in his limited game time. The huge reception from the St Clair players was a snapshot of what he has experienced the past week.
“I’ve noticed I’ve been stopped that little bit more when I’ve gone to the shops to get some food,” McLean said.
“I know that’s what you sign up for.
“To share that moment last Wednesday with my family – most of my immediate family were there to experience it with me – it was super cool to walk off the field and see how happy they were.
“I was just happy to be in camp let alone get on the field.
“I’m lucky all the boys around me are keeping me grounded.”
McClean is a huge chance of earning a starting spot for Origin II at the MCG on June 17 should Stephen Crichton’s shoulder not improve.
Crichton is no certainty to play for the Dogs on Monday evening, before the Blues squad is announced. McLean also has to get through Sunday’s game against Wests Tigers.
NSW coach Laurie Daley knows McLean can slot into left centre, or play left wing, should Koula be moved in one position.
McLean played on the wing a couple of times for New Zealand during last year’s Pacific Championships and did an excellent job for Kiwis coach Stacey Jones.
Jones was at CommBank Stadium last Sunday night when McLean bagged a couple of tries against the Warriors and came up with a match-winning tackle for Penrith on Taine Tuaupiki.
“He carries the ball from the back field really strongly, and he’s good in the air,” Jones said.
“He’s just a very smart footballer. He comes into camp, he knows his role, and he’s obviously in a good system at Penrith. He’s a special player.”
Watene-Zelezniak watched McLean calmly position himself in front of him to catch a kick and score a try against the Warriors in the first half.
The 30-year-old Watene-Zelezniak is one of the best wingers in the game and has never rated a mention when it comes to the NSW selection debate. The powerful winger qualifies for the Blues due to the changes in Origin’s international eligibility rules. He said his younger rival possessed one thing that made him special.
“We talk about cues – Casey doesn’t give you any cues,” Watene-Zelezniak said.
“It’s hard to know what he’s going to do. There are certain things we [watch on] tape, but he doesn’t give you anything. He’s on every team’s preview.
“For a young kid, you’d think he’d been around a long time the way he plays the game.”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary rested Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o after Origin I for the Warriors clash, but had no issues backing up McLean because of his age, not to mention the chance to give him the experience of what it is like, physically and mentally, to play so soon after an emotional representative fixture.
As coach Cleary walked out of CommBank Stadium following Penrith’s gritty 20-18 win, he was only too happy to talk up McLean and what the future holds.
“I never could have imagined how quickly he has come through,” Cleary said.
“It’s been handy for us.
“He was amazing the other night. The only thing he didn’t do was run the ball when ‘Nat’ kicked to him, instead of passing it.
“But he attacked the game. He looked every bit an Origin player.”
He looked every bit the superstar at Peppertree Reserve during the week.
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