'If it's the Warriors we saw in Brisbane and a few times during the season, then you know it's just not going to happen for them. But if the Warriors we've seen in the last week-and-a-half turn up on Sunday, then we'll have ourselves a grand final."
Manly coach Des Hasler tried to wrestle back the underdogs tag at the grand final breakfast, highlighting the fact the Warriors are stacked with Kiwis, but few were buying it. He has many survivors from the grand final sides of 2007 and 2008 and experience counts for a lot at this time of year.
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon is playing in his fourth grand final. Only three Warriors have ever been to the Big Show.
The Warriors will believe they can win on Sunday but know only their best will be good enough to give them a chance.
"I think our belief has been quite strong for a while now," Cleary said. "We copped a hammering in round one of the finals.
"The first week of the finals is somewhat similar to the grand final because it's all new and big and we didn't handle that week. We were lucky enough to get another shot and steadied the ship and turned things around. I think that experience in the first week will help us this week."
It will also help that they have been playing finals-style football for the past two months. They played four top-eight sides in the final five weeks of the regular season and have spent five of the past six weeks on the road. The only question is whether they have enough juice left in the tank to beat a side who have won seven of their last eight and are effectively playing at home.
"In terms of big-game routine, we have done it," Cleary said. "I know it's the grand final but I think the grand final is built up more than the game. As long as the boys prepare the best they can and deliver another performance in a game, which it is, we should be in pretty good space."
Manly are in good shape, too. They welcome back Glenn Stewart after a three-week suspension for striking and his presence strengthens an already-impressive and physically daunting pack.
A lot has been made about the battle of the halves - Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran against Shaun Johnson and James Maloney - but it is up front where it will be won and lost. The Warriors will need to impose themselves like they did in the second half against Melbourne, when they starved them of possession and field position and limited the effectiveness of their playmakers, to have any chance.
"Probably 17 guys to all be at our best," Maloney said when asked what it would take to win. "We have the belief but Manly have been outstanding all year so we will have to have 17 blokes at the absolute top of our game and we might just scrape home."
It's an attitude his team-mates would be wise to adopt.
