Cleary looks up top in honour of his pop

STAR Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary will look to the heavens when running out for Sunday night’s grand final hoping for a guiding hand from much loved grandfather Tim Stuart.

“I’m looking at grandad,” Nathan told family members of his traditional look skyward.

Tim, a league fanatic, treasured his young grandson and Nathan adored his pop.

Just days before Nathan played an Australian Schoolboys match against New Zealand in Brisbane during 2015, Tim passed away. It crushed the young kid, who vowed he would remember Tim before every game. And Cleary has been true to his word. Rugby league runs through the family. Tim’s daughter, Rebecca, married Ivan Cleary.

Rebecca has three sisters – one is married to former Souths, Canberra, North Queensland and Warriors NRL player Jason Death, while another married exManly lower grade player Paul Franks.

The four women are sisters of Josh Stuart, the former North Sydney and Northern Eagles forward. Paul is Ivan’s brother-in-law.

“We went to watch Nathan play Australian Schoolboys at Suncorp in 2015. His grandad – my father-in-law – was coming with us but died a few days before the game,” Franks said.

“Tim was the biggest rugby league follower you have ever met. He used to watch all the weekend games and then replays during the week. Tim was Nathan’s biggest fan. He watched him come through all the junior grades and Harold Matthews and SG Ball.”

Even family members initially didn’t know what Nathan’s typical look to the heavens was all about.

“We thought he might have been religious before someone hit him up and Nathan said he was looking at grandad,” Franks said.

“He does it for Tim. Nathan and his grandad were really close. It’s a topic of conversation whenever we have family occasions. It’s like: ‘Grandad would be so proud of Nathan.’ It’s just sad he never got to watch Nathan play first grade.”

Cleary has out in top performances in the finals and could hold the key to Penrith securing successive titles.