Team Lang gives thumbs up to Team Cleary

Coaching your son is not easy, but the alternative is even worse says premiership winning coach John Lang. MIKE COLMAN reports

Nathan Cleary with his father coach Ivan Cleary during the Penrith Panthers training session ahead of their match with the Tigers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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Early in 2015, when it became obvious that his son Nathan was going to one day play first grade at Penrith, Panthers’ then-coach Ivan Cleary approached John Lang for some advice.

“How did you find coaching your son?” he asked.

“It wasn’t ideal,” said Lang, who won the premiership at the Panthers in 2003 with his son Martin in the side.

“But I’d rather coach him than coach against him.”

Family affair ... John and Martin Lang celebrate Penrith’s 2003 grand final win. Picture: Brett Costello.

With media focus on the Cleary’s partnership after a rocky start to Ivan’s second coming at Penrith, the Langs are in the ideal position to comment on the pressures being faced by rugby league’s highest profile father-son combination.

While they are not the only father and son to have worked together as coach and player at the highest level of rugby league, they are undoubtedly the most successful.

Bob Fulton coached his sons Scott and Brett at Manly in the mid-to late 1990s but neither made an impact. Chris Anderson met with a similar lack of success coaching his sons Ben, at the Storm in 1998-99, and Jarrad, at the Sharks in 2003.

Kyle Flanagan played one game for the Sharks last season before his father Shane was dismissed by the club.

Shane Flanagan coached his son for one game and didn’t get the chance to coach him any further after being dismissed by the club. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

In total, those five players – plus Nathan Cleary – have played 86 matches under the coaching of their fathers. Martin Lang played his entire first grade career of 176 games between 1996 and 2004 under his father at the Sharks and Panthers.

They also have the distinction of being the only father and son to represent Queensland at State of Origin, John playing hooker in the first-ever match in 1980 and prop Martin playing eight times between 1998 and 2000.

But ask them their greatest rugby league moment and they will give the same answer: the one they shared - the 2003 grand final against the Roosters.

John and Martin Lang are the only father and son to represent Queensland at State of Origin level. Picture: Kristi Miller

“If I had to pick one, that would be it,” said John.

“To win a grand final in footy is a great thing. To win one in the best competition in the game is an exceptional achievement.”

Martin agrees.

“Playing Origin was huge but winning a grand final is an unbelievable feeling and especially that one. We were very much the underdogs. They had beaten us during the season and they had a great pack with players like Adrian Morley, Craig Fitzgibbon, Jason Cayless and Mick Crocker.

“It was by far the most physical game I ever played. They had this rushing defence and every time I ran the ball I was smashed. I got smashed every game I played but usually there would be a couple of times when you might half break the line and fall forward.

“In that game I got belted every time.”

Most physical game ... typical Martin Lang run in the 2003 grand final as he is hit by Luke Ricketson and Ryan Cross. Picture: Brett Faulkner

Martin’s runaway train style of play brought plenty of comments throughout his career, much of it along the lines of “How could a father watch his son get smashed like that?”

The pair took a pragmatic view. That was the way Martin chose to play, it was effective and John would rather have him doing it in his side than sending out players to try to stop him.

Plus, it actually made it easier on both of them.

“I was a one-dimensional player. I didn’t require much coaching. Personally and professionally I just went about my business,” says Martin, whose playing style and reticence with the media during his career were at odds with his intelligence and articulate manner away from the game.

LISTEN! Pressure on the Clearys, Ponga’s missing spark and rich pickings for the Blues. Plus Matty’s confrontation with “The Animal”. Don’t miss this week’s episode of The Matty Johns podcast with Paul Kent and James Hooper.

Having invested his football earnings wisely he now works for a medical devices company, is completing a university degree in biomedical and exercise science and is considering studying for his masters.

“The situation with me and dad was different to the Clearys. Nathan is a playmaker and the coach and the playmaker are always going to have a much closer relationship.

“There’s also a lot more attention on them That was a huge thing Ivan did, leaving the Tigers and going back to Penrith but I think it will work out.

“It takes time but in the end it will make Nathan so much better.”

John agrees.

Like father, like son. As a playmaker Nathan Cleary will always have a close relationship with his coach. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“There’s a bit of publicity around at the moment but it will all sort itself out,” he said. “Ivan is a good professional coach and Nathan is already a very good player who is going to be a top player for the next 10 years.

“I really don’t see it as a big deal. (Former top journalist) Mike Gibson used to say that rugby league was a soap opera. I think all this talk is just part of that.”

And as for the thrill of winning the biggest prize in rugby league alongside your father or son?

Martin: “I never got to find out what it was like winning a grand final without my father as the coach so I’ve got nothing to compare it with but I can tell you it makes it very special when it happens.”

John: “I didn’t really think about it at the time but on reflection it really was great and I hate to think how ordinary it would have been if one of us had been tied to the Roosters that day.”