Move over Nathan Cleary, meet the family’s next sports star Lennox Cleary

There is an argument that Nathan Cleary’s masterclass against Melbourne wasn’t even the best sporting performance in his own family over the weekend.

Superstar halfback Nathan Cleary was sublime on Friday night when leading Penrith into a historic fourth successive NRL grand final.

But there might now be a compelling argument that Nathan’s masterclass against Melbourne wasn’t even the best sporting performance in the Cleary family over the weekend.

Lennox Cleary, Nathan’s 14-year-old cousin who plays off a nine handicap, shot a remarkable even-par round of golf in the first round of Long Reef’s club championships on Saturday, just 12 hours after Nathan’s stellar efforts.

Young Lennox posted five birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey for a par round of 71 – an amazing score for a golfer so young.

And Lennox’s playing partners were his dad, Ash, and uncle, Stu, the brothers of Panthers coach, Ivan. Lennox hopes to carve out a career in golf and was back at Long Reef on Sunday playing another round.

Proud father Ash said Lennox possesses many of Nathan’s wonderful sporting traits.

14-year-old Lennox Cleary, cousin of Panthers star Nathan, is a budding golfer. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“Lennox doesn’t hit the ball that far because he’s only 14 but he hits it straight, he basically hits every fairway,” Ash said.

“There are lots of par fours he can’t reach in regulation but he chips so well. He chips it dead and has an easy putt for his par. He plays within his limitations.

“Lennox is a smart kid and has a good temperament too. He does have a lot of similarities to Nat in having a really good focus and a good calmness about him.

“And Lennox is pretty good under pressure to be honest. I’m hoping he will keep firing like his big cousin, it would be good. Lennox definitely looks up to Nat, as all his cousins do. Nat is a good leader, that’s for sure.

“Ivan has mentioned that Lennox should talk to Nat a bit more about focus, extra training and playing under pressure.

Lennox Cleary (left), cousin of Panthers star Nathan (right), pictured in Bali.

“We will stay at Ivan’s place for a few days around Christmas. Lennox and Nat have played a couple of games of golf together and during summer they might get a couple more games in.

“I was a bit worried because by the time we got back to Cromer (where the family home was located) after the footy on Friday night, we didn’t get to bed until midnight, and he hit-off at 8am on Saturday so I was worried he didn’t get enough sleep but it didn’t seem to worry him.

“He shot 71, which is par for the course. He shot nine better than his handicap. It was a good day, Lennox was pretty happy. It was good to watch because I wasn’t playing like him, that’s for sure.”

Ash made headlines in 2017 when then Wests Tigers coach Ivan donated a kidney to help save his brother’s life.

Ash and Lennox, who is in year nine at Mater Maria Catholic College at Warriewood, will be front and centre as the Clearys chase a third straight title when Penrith confront Brisbane in Sunday’s grand final.

“We will all be there en masse hoping they can do it again,” Ash said.

Encouraged by Ash and his wife Bonnie, Lennox will head to the Jack Newton Foundation in the NSW Hunter next week for a week of intense golf.

“To be honest, he’s pretty keen to make a career out of it,” Ash said. “He plays footy, soccer, pretty much all sports, but he’s really trying, as he gets a little bit older, to focus on golf. He is definitely keen to have a crack at it.”

Long Reef member and former first grade cricketer Greg Bush added: “Lennox is super smart and super talented. He is fearless with his putting and chipping. He had five birdies on Saturday – he blitzed it. It was extraordinary.”

The handicappers have already sliced and diced Lennox’s handicap, who will now play off five. Lennox was Long Reef’s B-grade championship last year.

Originally published as Move over Nathan Cleary, meet the family’s next sports star Lennox Cleary