- Some supporters are eager to point out the halfback’s large chin
Footy superstar Nathan Cleary has revealed the savage sledge he repeatedly cops from rival fans during matches.
Speaking on the Unscripted podcast with former Panthers teammate Josh Mansour, the four-time NRL premiership winner said supporters don’t hesitate to point out his large chin.
‘Whenever I’m goalkicking…there is always sledging, whether I’m in Australia or the United Kingdom,’ the champion halfback said.
‘They say stuff like ‘why don’t you kick this one with your chin?
‘It doesn’t hurt me, it is part of who I am…(these days) I have a laugh about it.’
Cleary, who is in a long-distance relationship with Matildas winger Mary Fowler, is gunning for his fifth title this season.
Footy superstar Nathan Cleary has revealed the savage sledge he repeatedly cops from rival fans during matches
Speaking on the Unscripted podcast with former Panthers teammate Josh Mansour, the four-time NRL premiership winner said supporters don’t hesitate to point out his large chin
Cleary has been in a long-distance relationship with Matildas winger Mary Fowler since 2023
Penrith are hungry after losing the preliminary final last year to Brisbane, ending a run of four successive premierships dating back to 2021.
The playmaker also opened up about losing the Origin decider with NSW last year.
Cleary was outplayed by Tom Dearden as Queensland won 24-12, with questions remaining about the no.7’s temperament in the Origin arena.
‘I know that if I played better, it would have put us in a better position to win the game,’ Cleary said.
‘With Origin, I’m unfortunate in a way because of (Immortal) Andrew Johns and how great he was on that stage.
‘I do feel like sometimes everyone wants me to be 2005 Andrew Johns.
‘At the end of the day, we are playing the best of the best and it’s a very difficult stage to excel.
‘That being said, I know I can be a lot better.’
Penrith take on Brisbane in their 2026 NRL season opener at Suncorp Stadium on March 6.
