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Nathan Cleary expects to have his legs targeted by Queensland in State of Origin after he was left hobbling after kick pressure in Penrith's NRL win.

Nathan Cleary expects to have his legs targeted by Queensland in State of Origin after controversy around kick pressure again reared up in Penrith's win over North Queensland.

Cleary was left nursing a corked leg after being hit by Cowboys prop Jordan McLean in the second half of the Panthers' 22-0 win and did not take his team's last shot at goal.

The Penrith and NSW halfback could be heard telling referee Ashley Klein the contact was dangerous, but McLean was not penalised on-field or charged on Saturday morning.

The issue of kick pressure and contact with a kickers' legs has repeatedly been a topic of debate in Origin.

Cleary was heavily pressured in Game I in 2020 by Christian Welch as NSW were beaten in Adelaide, before he was afforded more time in Game II in Sydney.

It's believed that prompted correspondence from then Queensland coach Wayne Bennett to the NRL around NSW running illegal block plays, before pressure was again exerted on Cleary in the losing decider.

The issue was then raised again in last year's finals when Ivan Cleary and Bennett clashed over the topic in the lead up to the qualifying final between Penrith and Bennett's South Sydney.

Cleary now enters Origin well aware he will be targeted as NSW's chief kicker, possessing arguably the best boot in the game.

"Origin is a beast in itself and there's not too many penalties," Cleary said.

"I am fine with that. I look forward to the challenge every time I play it.

"It's the hardest stage to play on. You just don't get a lot of time.

"It's a great challenge and something I have to try and combat."

The Penrith No.7 is, however, confident tackles such as McLean's will be penalised, after he was sent flying onto his back with the marginally late contact.

But father Ivan was more concerned over what he feared were inconsistencies.

"I had a view that kick pressure has changed again tonight. Because we never ever get kick-pressure penalties," Ivan said.

"And he was tackled multiple times tonight late and in the air and whatever. Maybe it (the rule) has changed"