If you guessed Ivan Cleary is related to Nathan Cleary, then you are correct. The two share the same bloodline and are a leading example of successful father-son duo in sports.
Though many thought they might fail because of their blood relationship, Ivan and Nathan Cleary have proved the doubters wrong. Winning three titles in a row is not an easy task, but the two at Penrith Panthers have made it look like an easy task.
In 2019, halfway through the first year of his contract Ivan Cleary had thought of walking away from the job. He thought he wasn’t the man to guide the Panthers to the coveted trophy, and now he has three.
His son, Nathan Cleary, had a performance that will probably go down in history as one of the best performances seen in the NRL, and that too in the finals. Nathan was on top of his game as the Panthers clawed back to win against the Broncos in the 2023 NRL Finals.
Down 24-18 with 18 minutes to play, Nathan Cleary set up two tries and scored one to guide the Panthers to victory and also earned the honor of wearing a second Clive Churchill Medal.
Is Ivan Cleary Related To Nathan Cleary?
Ivan Cleary shares a very close relationship with the Penrith Panthers half-back Nathan Cleary. The two are father and son.
Nathan Cleary is the oldest son of Ivan and his wife, Rebecca Cleary. The father-son duo of Ivan and Nathan Cleary have proven to be highly successful for the NRL team.
Since linking up in 2019, when Ivan re-signed with the Panthers, the duo has won three successive NRL titles beginning in 2021. But things haven’t always been perfect for Ivan and Nathan.
In 2019, Ivan Cleary faced media and fans’ wrath when he chose to return to the Panthers. Ivan was called “Disloyal,” “Mercenary,” “Liar,” “Traitor,” and all sorts of words for leaving the Wests Tigers.
At the time, the 21-year-old Nathan raised his voice in his dad’s support. He said it wasn’t only tough on him and Ivan, but his mom and his younger siblings also had to go through the difficulties.
The half-back has always stated how grateful he is to work alongside his father, as many aren’t blessed with the same opportunity.
Previously, in an interview, Nathan mentioned that being the son of the coach doesn’t always come with perks. The youngster said his teammates are always ready with dad jokes.
Earlier this year, Nathan bought his childhood riverside home from his father. According to property records, the property traded hands via an internal family transfer for $1.7 million.
Whether it be on the field or off the field, Nathan and Ivan Cleary are the father-son duo who haven’t made a bad move.
Ivan Cleary Kids With Rebecca Cleary
Ivan and Rebecca Cleary’s oldest child, Nathan Cleary, doesn’t need any introduction. He has already turned into a star at a young age.
But he isn’t the only child of the couple. The football coach and his entrepreneur wife became parents three more times after Nathan was born.
On October 16, 2020, Rebecca, with her husband, began a joint venture called Pinot and Picasso Newport. The art studio has a separate Instagram page with the username @pinotandpicassonewport.
The couple’s second child, Indi Cleary, was born on January 28, 1999, and is a year younger than Nathan. Indi is currently a real estate agent. She is available on Instagram with the username @indicleary and has gained a sizeable following of 19.3k.
Previously, Nathan had joked he wouldn’t let Indi near the NRL trophy if the Panthers won it again in 2022. The precaution stems from the fact that Indi was the reason behind the broken 2021 trophy.
Ivan and Rebecca’s third child, Milaya Cleary, is active on social media, but there isn’t much known about her. Nathan’s youngest sibling, Jett Cleary, has followed in his and their dad’s footsteps.
Born on April 3, 2005, Jett Cleary plays in the junior leagues for Penrith Panthers. In July, Jett set the field alight with his hat-trick in the Australian Second School Championship.
He guided his team, NSW Combined Catholic Colleges, to victory over Combined Affiliated States. So, the Cleary legacy is likely to continue to live on for years to come in the NRL.
