NRL grand final: Nathan Cleary’s notebook ritual helps Penrith star cope with pre-match nerves

Unflappable. That’s why his teammate call him the ice man. However, Nathan Cleary has revealed a rare insight into his psyche and details the game day letter he will write to himself.

DAILY TELEGRAPH SEPTEMBER 26, 2023. Nathan Cleary ahead of the Penrith Panthers grand final against the Broncos. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Nathan Cleary will pull out his trusty notebook at some stage just before kick-off deep inside the bowels of Accor Stadium on Sunday.

He will pick it up and have a read of a hand-scribbled note he penned to himself from his hotel room at the Parkroyal Parramatta just moments before the team bus left for Sydney Olympic Park.

This has become somewhat of a game-day ritual for the Penrith superstar to help him deal with anxiety on the eve of matches.

They were the nerves he tried so hard to pretend didn’t exist that ultimately would impact his performance.

The notebook on Sunday will detail his game plan. And his own role that he will try to desperately execute as he looks to guide his team into rugby league immortality.

There are subtle messages, too.

“Enjoy yourself,” Cleary will write to himself. “It’s a grand final. It’s where you want to be.”

The handwriting may be “very ugly”, according to Cleary. But the messaging is very clear.

Penrith Panthers captain Nathan Cleary. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“If I write it down, usually it ingrains it in my brain,” Cleary said. “I will always write down in my book about the game plan and what I need to do for the team just so I know. That’s a tactic for me.

“Sometimes I might write a bit extra about what I’m feeling. I’ll look at it just before I leave to go to the game. I might look at it again in the sheds.”

While Cleary can’t remember the exact moment he started jotting down his thoughts, it was a trait used by James Tamou. Tamou, who once famously wrote a letter to himself on grand final day ahead of North Queensland’s heart-stopping golden-point victory against Brisbane in 2015.

Tamou continued to carry a notebook with him when he joined the Panthers and captained them when they fell short to the Melbourne Storm in the 2020 decider, with Cleary well established as Penrith’s linchpin.

The mantra in 2015 was simple for Tamou.

“Jimmy this is the last game of the year,” Tamou wrote. “This is it. Nothing else. You‘ve got to start with good line speed. Run hard. Bumpers up and stay square.

“In the first 10 minutes you’ll get fatigued. When you get tired keep pushing, keep running. Keep your feet moving, whether it be kick chase, line speed or tying in. Just keep moving, keep moving, keep moving.“

James Tamou reads his letter to himself ahead of the 2015 grand final. Picture: Supplied

Tamou’s notes do not necessarily correlate to Cleary’s game plan but the theme is a constant. Keeping cool under pressure and always being in the fight.

Cleary has long been dubbed “Iceman” by his teammates. The nickname was bestowed on him in the lead up to last year’s decider as part of Penrith’s Top Gun-themed premiership push.

He lived up to the moniker earlier this year when he pointed to his veins in his right arm after nailing a conversion from out wide in the final minute of Penrith’s World Club Challenge game in his first match of 2023 to send the game into extra time.

Cleary may come across as unflappable and always in control of his emotions, but despite everything he has achieved there is still lingering doubt.

“I get that anxious feeling come game day,” Cleary said. “I was pretty anxious last week (against the Storm). I go through stages. I have to take myself back to enjoying it and trusting what I’ve done.

“It’s being self-aware that it’s happening. In the past when I’ve had those feelings I’ve constantly tried to push them away. You have to accept they are there.

(L-R) Nathan and Ivan Cleary all smile after qualifying for the grand final. Picture: NRL Photos

“I can’t completely eliminate that they are there. You have to address them and flick your mind.

“I’ve never been massive on setting long-term goals. I know within myself what I want to achieve. “I’m more so about trying to attack each day as it comes and get the best out of that day.

“That’s what has worked for me. When I’ve set long-term goals I’m too busy thinking about the outcome rather than what’s required to do it. I’m a strong believer if you work hard every day, these goals will come.

“It’s easy to forget sometimes why we play rugby league. You grow up because you love it and you enjoy playing with your mates and having fun.”

Cleary overcame his nerves to produce what some pundits believed was a near-perfect performance against the Storm last week.

He was rated 9.5/10 by this masthead after his 18-point haul. He still felt unsatisfied.

“I’ve always been the harshest critic of myself,” Cleary said.

“There are always areas you can get better at. We’ve had this mentality since 2020 when we started this run. We made changes and wanted our culture to be a hardworking one. We thought only good results would come through hard work.

“We know what it takes to reach great heights. We have fun while we are doing it.”

As he eyes his third premiership at just 25, you sense for the Panthers the fun is a long way from ending.

Originally published as NRL grand final: Nathan Cleary’s notebook ritual helps Penrith star cope with pre-match nerves