Nathan Cleary packs on the muscle to hit the NRL season at full power
You only have to look at Nathan Cleary to see all the hard work he’s done in the off-season. And the extra 4kg of muscle means the Penrith No.7 is faster and more powerful than ever.
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Awaiting the red eye out of Perth on Saturday night, a group of NRL types were milled about the lounge drinking Little Creatures and talking big Panthers.
Specifically, Nathan Cleary – and the overhauled rig this Penrith No.7 unveiled at the Nines.
Which is how it had gone for two days.
Cleary’s bulked up appearance – which includes 4kg of new muscle – mentioned as often throughout the tournament as St George Illawarra rookie Cody Ramsey, Newcastle Old Boy Kurt Gidley and that North Queensland flyer nicknamed “The Hammer”.
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Even to the naked eye, it’s obvious Cleary has undergone a physical overhaul this off-season.
A truth confirmed late Monday afternoon by Hayden Knowles, the Panthers Head of Performance who also oversees the playmaker’s physical wellbeing at NSW Origin level.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Knowles confirmed Clearly had bulked up to 92kg over summer, while also revealing the Panthers favourite was now “faster” and “more powerful”, even at the heavier weight.
Asked about Cleary’s hyped physical appearance at the Nines, Knowles laughed: “Nath’s been telling everyone it only looked that way because of the pink jerseys. We’re hoping to increase merchandise sales.
“But, yes, you’re right. While last year he played around 88kg, Nath has now put on another four kilos.
“Importantly, he’s also faster and more powerful, too. So it’s not like we’re trying to make a body builder of him; it’s both upper and lower body strength where he’s improved.”
HALF WEIGHTS
Your club’s halfback
94kg Michael Morgan Cowboys
92kg Nathan Cleary Panthers
92kg Jahrome Hughes Storm
91kg Mitchell Pearce Knights
90kg Lachlan Lewis Bulldogs
90kg George Williams Raiders
89kg Chad Townsend Sharks
88kg Luke Brooks Tigers
88kg Ash Taylor Titans
88kg Ben Hunt Dragons
86kg Brodie Croft Broncos
85kg Kyle Flanagan Roosters
85kg Mitchell Moses Eels
85kg Kodi Nikorima Warriors
85kg Adam Reynolds Rabbitohs
84kg Daly Cherry-Evans Sea Eagles
Despite Cleary’s impressive physical transformation, Knowles stressed there was no “magic wand” involved.
“Everything Nathan Cleary does is with total commitment,” he said.
“And that’s how it has been again this off season.
“He’s last guy out of the gym, last guy off the field and last guy to leave our academy every night.
“When everyone else has gone home, Nathan is still here studying video. It’s a commitment he brings to everything he does.
“It’s why you’ll hear stories about footballers like Cooper Cronk and how they prepare at the back end of their careers, just as you’ll hear it about basketballers, golfers, cricketers and so on.
“And one day they’ll be telling Nathan Cleary stories, too. Only it will be how he was doing all that from the age of 22.”
Knowles also confirmed that, after debuting in the NRL at 18, Cleary was only now starting to reap the benefits that accompany a fella moving through his early twenties.
“So you could credit the strength coaches, the nutritionists, even the Oak Milk,” Knowles laughed.
“But as Nathan Cleary gets older, he’s going to develop more, too.
“That’s why he’s going to be stronger again next year. And stronger again the year after that.
“Like with Olympic athletes, the statistics show they don’t peak until their late 20s.”
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If Penrith are to make the top eight this year, much will depend of the role Cleary plays, especially now he is without one of rugby league’s greatest winners, departed No.6 James Maloney.
In Perth over the weekend, the Blues playmaker was enjoying a strong Nines tournament before his Panthers were unceremoniously punted on the back of a horror refereeing call against St George Illawarra in the quarter-finals.
Right on full-time, referee Ben Cummins awarded a try to Dragons rookie Cody Ramsey, despite replays clearly showing the youngster clearly placed the ball over the sideline.
SUPERCOACH INSIDER
Nathan Cleary, Panthers, $631,500
Averaged a full five points more per game than the next best halfback last season. The best base stat halfback we’ve ever seen and history shows his SuperCoach output goes through the roof when James Maloney isn’t in the side. His 13.8 per cent ownership is criminally low.
– Tom Sangster
Originally published as Nathan Cleary packs on the muscle to hit the NRL season at full power
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