Captain’s role is not for Cleary
RUGBY LEAGUE: Penrith star Nathan Cleary has shied away from any talk of taking the captaincy next year, saying it would lead to suggestions of nepotism.
Speaking to media for the first time since his father Ivan’s controversial return to the NRL club as coach, Cleary said he was not expecting to be named skipper next season.
“I think that’ll be a bit of favouritism, there’d be a bit of controversy about that,” he said yesterday.
The 21-year-old admitted being coached by his father felt “weird” initially, but he was relieved to put the long-running saga surrounding Ivan’s return from Wests Tigers behind them.
“It got pretty bad at stages. Any time your family name gets brought into disrepute, it’s not a great time,” Nathan said.
“Now that it’s all over, everyone’s happy and looking to get on with it.”
Cleary has only previously been coached by Ivan when playing soccer in the under-6s, and he said his Dad was a “terrible” mentor then.
“That’s why he became a footy coach,” he said.
Having penned a new deal with the Panthers until the 2024 season, the NSW Origin halfback said he relished working with his dad in what he described as a “unique experience.”
Ivan is also contracted for the next five years.
“It’s the whole trust aspect,” Cleary said. “Trust is a lost thing in football. There’s not much around. It’s good to have that with your coach. I think it’ll be a good experience.”
While Cleary is unlikely to be appointed captain, Ivan is yet to make a call on whether to replace James Maloney and Isaah Yeo, who shared the duties in 2018.