Background
Cleary grew up in the Sydney Northern Beaches" suburb of Beacon Hill, New South Wales where he played schoolboy soccer, and senior cricket in the Manly Warringah Cricket Association, before pursuing a career in rugby league.
Cleary grew up in the Sydney Northern Beaches" suburb of Beacon Hill, New South Wales where he played schoolboy soccer, and senior cricket in the Manly Warringah Cricket Association, before pursuing a career in rugby league.
He is a former head coach of the Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors. As a player, Cleary was a goal-kicking fullback who played club football in Australia and New Zealand, setting a new record for most points scored in a season during the 1998 NRL Premiership. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Originally a goal-kicking fullback, Cleary was a Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles junior before moving to play Reserve Grade with the Sea Eagles in 1992 and 1993.
He started his first grade career with the Sea Eagles in 1992 playing two games before getting his chance after the team"s first choice fullback Matthew Ridge suffered a season-ending injury in mid-1993.
Cleary filled the custodian spot well and also proved himself an accurate goal-kicker, filling in for Ridge on both counts and helping Many to 4th place and a finals berth where they were bundled out 4-16 by the Brisbane Broncos in the Qualifying Final. In his 15 first grade games for Manly, Cleary scored 8 tries and kicked 50 goals (from 71 attempts for 704%) for a total of 132 points.
North Sydney Bears
He also was the team"s 2nd choice goal kicker behind Jason Taylor and in 37 games for the Bears he scored 15 tries but kicked only 5 goals (from 6 attempts) for a total of 70 points. Sydney Roosters
New Zealand Warriors
After leaving the Warriors Cleary originally intended to join the Huddersfield Giants in the European Super League but instead retired to take up an opportunity to join the Sydney Roosters as the NSWRL Premier League coach.
In 2004 he coached the team to the Premiership.
Penrith Panthers
Early season injuries and some poor form from the Panthers have seen a tough start to Cleary"s return to Sydney with Penrith sitting 15th after Round 19 of the 2012 NRL season with a 4-13 record. He was fired on 19 October 2015.
