Waqa Blake has conceded he will be Penrith's No.1 target in Sunday's NRL grand final but insists there are no mental scars from Nathan Cleary's aerial assault a fortnight ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Blake will have arguably the hardest job of all Parramatta players in Sunday's decider when likely peppered by Cleary's famous floating bombs, after dropping three of them in the opening week of the finals.
Even Cleary admitted he felt sorry for his former Panthers teammate that day, with two of the errors leading to tries as Penrith ran away with the match.
Blake didn't even have to be prompted by reporters about Cleary's kicking game when interviewed at Parramatta's fan day on Monday, knowing full well the questions were coming.
Likewise, he knows exactly what to expect come Sunday, saying it would be commonsense for Cleary to target him.
"Oh yeah, 100 per cent," Blake said.
"After last game, it's coming. So the challenge again is on me. But I'm keen. I'm keen to go out there and rip in for the boys.
"We've be practising. The onus is just on me, I just got to catch it.
"It's coming. I've got to do my best, get underneath it, and then other than that just move on from it."
Blake's admission came after Cleary sounded a warning over the weekend by saying his kicking game could still improve.
The Penrith No.7 also terrorised South Sydney and their winger Taane Milne in Saturday night's preliminary-final win, as the Rabbitohs also failed to put sufficient kick pressure on him.
"You go through stages," Cleary said.
"I've been striking them alright, but I still reckon I can be a bit more consistent with them. And especially with my long kicking."
But Blake insists he is not intimidated.
He knows Cleary's kicking game better than most, having watched for years as he sent bombs high into the air at Panthers training.
He made a point to watch several replays of Cleary's bombs in the days after the qualifying-final loss, but has since moved on.
"Yeah, he can kick them ... but all I've got to do is focus on myself and obviously just try catch the ball.," Blake said.
"Everyone knows he is the best in the game to do it. He did it again on the weekend (to Milne).
"It's coming. I've just got to be ready.
"Luckily I have boys here to support me and other than that, I've just got to concentrate on my own game and what I'm going to do.
"And that's being on the wing there, being able to finish opportunities and go out there and just defend well."
Australian Associated Press
