‘I wanted to have a fallback option': Cleary's back-up career if footy didn't work out
But rewind 10 years to St Dominic's College in Penrith, and the NRL's best player was juggling junior football with the HSC as he prepared to study at university.
'I knew I wanted to be a footballer, but I didn't know it was going to become a reality. I definitely got stuck into my studies because it was sort of drilled into me by my parents, but I wanted to have a fallback option if footy didn't come through,' said Cleary.
'I was studying high school teaching at uni for about six months, and then I actually ended up playing first grade, so I fell out of that. I wanted to be a PE teacher, but I didn't really know what I wanted to do. [I thought] I'll do this and have it there and fiddle around and see what happens.'
Cleary's story is just one of the many HSC success stories included in this year's HSC Study Guide which launches on Monday. It is the 50th annivesary edition of the guide, a partnership with the NSW Education Standards Authority, designed to support the 80,000 plus students sitting HSC exams this year and every year since 1975.
Now a decade on from sitting his HSC, he says he may have done things differently if he had his time again.
'I regret this, but I did two major work subjects at the time [Industrial Technology: Timber Products and Furniture], and then did general maths, standard English, PDHPE and one unit religion,' he said.
'It was just so much work, so much work. It was fun to do it, but staying back after school to get it done ... it was a mad rush towards the end, I was lucky I had great teachers that helped me, but it was tough to do two at a time.'
But the juggling act was a learning curve for Cleary, and it has translated to life in football.
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'I think it was the balance of footy, also studying enough, and then the two major projects threw a spanner in the works. Sometimes I had to choose between going to play footy or staying back and actually finishing my major work,' he said.
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News.com.au
22 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Tigers chairman Barry O'Farrell's Lachlan Galvin plea amid growing fan safety fears
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
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BRISBANE Corey Jensen, Cory Paix, Delouise Hoeter, Fletcher Baker, Jack Gosiewski, Jaiyden Hunt The fact fellow hookers Ben Hunt and Billy Walters will still be there next year has made the situation difficult for Paix. Salary cap space is tight with regular front-liners Corey Jensen and Jack Gosiewski still unsigned. CANBERRA Albert Hopoate, Danny Levi, Josh Papali'i The big question is how the Papali'i situation plays out. The veteran is rethinking a move to England, but fitting him in would require Canberra to clear cap space given they budgeted on 2025 being his last year. CANTERBURY Blake Taaffe, Blake Wilson, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Drew Hutchison, Jake Turpin. The Bulldogs' rebuild is nearing completion with a settled roster. Hutchison is likely to follow fellow half Toby Sexton out of the club, with a move to the Super League on his English passport. CRONULLA Billy Burns, Kade Dykes, Mawene Hiroti, Sam Stonestreet, Will Kennedy. 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Lussick would be unlikely to remain at the club, following Tallyn da Silva's mid-season arrival and Ryley Smith's rise at hooker. PENRITH Brad Schneider, Daine Laurie, Harrison Hassett, Luke Sommerton, Mavrik Geyer, Preston Riki, Soni Luke Schneider must decide whether he wants to remain back up to Nathan Cleary or consider life elsewhere. That decision may have ramifications for others, with limited cap space. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA Corey Allan, Michael Molo, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Sione Finau, Viliami Fifita, David Klemmer The Dragons have a wealth of young forwards coming through, meaning the likes of Faitala-Mariner are expected to leave the club. Finau has toured Canberra, with the Dragons facing a battle to keep the young winger. SOUTH SYDNEY Cody Walker, Davvy Moale, Jacob Host, Jayden Sullivan, Shaqai Mitchell, Siliva Havili Walker and Moale's deals are expected to be completed soon, while Sullivan is at this stage due to return to Wests Tigers. 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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Havili set to move as NRL veterans wait on contracts
South Sydney utility Siliva Havili is weighing up a move to England as one of several NRL veterans with uncertain futures beyond the end of this year. With just three months to go in the NRL contracting year, almost 90 players are officially listed as off contract at the end of the season with deals expiring on October 31. Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi is the highest profile of those, with Te Maire Martin, Will Kennedy, Adam Elliott and Tyson Frizell among other top-line talent still to be locked down. Most clubs have already begun turning attention to their 2027 rosters, desperate to retain elite players before they become free agents on November 1. But more immediately, 2026 is a concern for close to one-sixth of the NRL's players. Havili at this stage looks likely to leave the Rabbitohs, with Brandon Smith and Bronson Garlick having recently signed with the club as hooking utilities. AAP understands there has been some interest from Canterbury, while Parramatta loomed as one other option. A Super League move is also not off the cards, with at least two clubs believed to be potential suitors. "That's definitely an option (to go to England). I've got options to play here too," Havili, who has been in the NRL since 2014, told AAP. "I still think I've got a lot of footy in me. "I'm just happy to explore my options. I've got a young family to look after. I'm open to every option and everything out there." Now aged 32, Havili has been one of the few players at South Sydney not to have long-term injury issues this year after a few interrupted seasons. The one-time Kiwis hooker also remains part of Tonga's set up, and wants to contribute more there after finishing up. "I do understand where I'm at with my career and what I can give," Havili said. "I also want to get into a bit of coaching too. So that's something I'm looking forward to in that pathway within the Pacific Island." Elsewhere, Frizell has an option at Newcastle for 2026 and is expected to follow fellow veteran Dane Gagai into re-signing. Elliott, meanwhile, is one of the bigger names still to have a deal done for next year. The 30-year-old is believed to have options on the table in Sydney, with his wife Millie living in the city while playing with the Roosters in NRLW season. The couple are expecting their first child in September, with Millie sitting out this NRLW season while pregnant. Doueihi's future is unresolved at the Tigers, with Penrith and St George Illawarra having distanced themselves from reported interest in the Lebanon star. Cronulla continue to face a salary-cap squeeze headed into next season with fullback Kennedy one of the few members of a first-choice spine coming off contract. The Sharks are so far unable to match the No.1's asking price, with the situation threatening to drag into the off season. The Dolphins also have big decisions to make in their pack, with Mark Nicholls and Josh Kerr still unsigned headed toward the end of the season. South Sydney utility Siliva Havili is weighing up a move to England as one of several NRL veterans with uncertain futures beyond the end of this year. With just three months to go in the NRL contracting year, almost 90 players are officially listed as off contract at the end of the season with deals expiring on October 31. Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi is the highest profile of those, with Te Maire Martin, Will Kennedy, Adam Elliott and Tyson Frizell among other top-line talent still to be locked down. Most clubs have already begun turning attention to their 2027 rosters, desperate to retain elite players before they become free agents on November 1. But more immediately, 2026 is a concern for close to one-sixth of the NRL's players. Havili at this stage looks likely to leave the Rabbitohs, with Brandon Smith and Bronson Garlick having recently signed with the club as hooking utilities. AAP understands there has been some interest from Canterbury, while Parramatta loomed as one other option. A Super League move is also not off the cards, with at least two clubs believed to be potential suitors. "That's definitely an option (to go to England). I've got options to play here too," Havili, who has been in the NRL since 2014, told AAP. "I still think I've got a lot of footy in me. "I'm just happy to explore my options. I've got a young family to look after. I'm open to every option and everything out there." Now aged 32, Havili has been one of the few players at South Sydney not to have long-term injury issues this year after a few interrupted seasons. The one-time Kiwis hooker also remains part of Tonga's set up, and wants to contribute more there after finishing up. "I do understand where I'm at with my career and what I can give," Havili said. "I also want to get into a bit of coaching too. So that's something I'm looking forward to in that pathway within the Pacific Island." Elsewhere, Frizell has an option at Newcastle for 2026 and is expected to follow fellow veteran Dane Gagai into re-signing. Elliott, meanwhile, is one of the bigger names still to have a deal done for next year. The 30-year-old is believed to have options on the table in Sydney, with his wife Millie living in the city while playing with the Roosters in NRLW season. The couple are expecting their first child in September, with Millie sitting out this NRLW season while pregnant. Doueihi's future is unresolved at the Tigers, with Penrith and St George Illawarra having distanced themselves from reported interest in the Lebanon star. Cronulla continue to face a salary-cap squeeze headed into next season with fullback Kennedy one of the few members of a first-choice spine coming off contract. The Sharks are so far unable to match the No.1's asking price, with the situation threatening to drag into the off season. The Dolphins also have big decisions to make in their pack, with Mark Nicholls and Josh Kerr still unsigned headed toward the end of the season. South Sydney utility Siliva Havili is weighing up a move to England as one of several NRL veterans with uncertain futures beyond the end of this year. With just three months to go in the NRL contracting year, almost 90 players are officially listed as off contract at the end of the season with deals expiring on October 31. Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi is the highest profile of those, with Te Maire Martin, Will Kennedy, Adam Elliott and Tyson Frizell among other top-line talent still to be locked down. Most clubs have already begun turning attention to their 2027 rosters, desperate to retain elite players before they become free agents on November 1. But more immediately, 2026 is a concern for close to one-sixth of the NRL's players. Havili at this stage looks likely to leave the Rabbitohs, with Brandon Smith and Bronson Garlick having recently signed with the club as hooking utilities. AAP understands there has been some interest from Canterbury, while Parramatta loomed as one other option. A Super League move is also not off the cards, with at least two clubs believed to be potential suitors. "That's definitely an option (to go to England). I've got options to play here too," Havili, who has been in the NRL since 2014, told AAP. "I still think I've got a lot of footy in me. "I'm just happy to explore my options. I've got a young family to look after. I'm open to every option and everything out there." Now aged 32, Havili has been one of the few players at South Sydney not to have long-term injury issues this year after a few interrupted seasons. The one-time Kiwis hooker also remains part of Tonga's set up, and wants to contribute more there after finishing up. "I do understand where I'm at with my career and what I can give," Havili said. "I also want to get into a bit of coaching too. So that's something I'm looking forward to in that pathway within the Pacific Island." Elsewhere, Frizell has an option at Newcastle for 2026 and is expected to follow fellow veteran Dane Gagai into re-signing. Elliott, meanwhile, is one of the bigger names still to have a deal done for next year. The 30-year-old is believed to have options on the table in Sydney, with his wife Millie living in the city while playing with the Roosters in NRLW season. The couple are expecting their first child in September, with Millie sitting out this NRLW season while pregnant. Doueihi's future is unresolved at the Tigers, with Penrith and St George Illawarra having distanced themselves from reported interest in the Lebanon star. Cronulla continue to face a salary-cap squeeze headed into next season with fullback Kennedy one of the few members of a first-choice spine coming off contract. The Sharks are so far unable to match the No.1's asking price, with the situation threatening to drag into the off season. The Dolphins also have big decisions to make in their pack, with Mark Nicholls and Josh Kerr still unsigned headed toward the end of the season.
