Widely regarded the NRL's best player, Cleary has won four grand finals, a World Cup and an Ashes series in an 11-year first-grade career, but was winless in three Origin deciders before Wednesday night.
But the Penrith halfback added a hard-earned line to his glittering CV as he starred in NSW's 30-12 upset win at Suncorp Stadium.
"I don't ever like losing games and I've been in too many deciders that we've lost," Cleary said after the decider.
"It's a horrible feeling, so it's nice to be on the other side of it tonight."
With two tries in game three and a crucial strip before another, there could be no doubting the newly-minted Wally Lewis Medallist has now dominated the Origin arena.
Cleary likened the feeling of finally winning a decider to clinching grand final glory at the Panthers.
"It's pretty similar, being able to achieve something like this, something that I've been sought after for such a long time in and amongst this group," he said.
"We kind of were written off so it's nice to overcome that and just galvanise this group and enjoy it. It's pretty similar to a grand final."
Asked whether he felt he had finally silenced the last of his doubters, Cleary was introspective.
"I don't know, we got the win, so I guess so, but that's not what motivates me," he said.
"I like doing it for the people that have always been in my corner, always there to support.
"It's not about those people that wrote me off, or whatever. They can say whatever they want but I'll enjoy this moment with those that are close to me."
Cleary seemingly has little left to achieve in the NRL, with a maiden Dally M Medal also on the cards amid a sparkling season for Penrith.
But the 28-year-old said there would always be more challenges to overcome.
"That's what drives me every day, to get the most out of my potential. Rugby league's a game, you never complete it, there's always areas you can get better at," he said.
"There's always games where you play bad and then you play good and it's up and down but it's what keeps bringing us back.
"I want to keep riding that journey."
4°C