penrith panthers star nathan cleary has laughed off comparisons to nfl legend tom brady as he prepares for a well-earned vacation in las vegas. fresh off another stellar nrl season, the three-time premiership-winning halfback is taking time to recharge before turning his focus to 2025.
rumors of a connection between cleary and brady surfaced after panthers coach ivan cleary recently likened his son’s leadership and clutch performances to those of the seven-time super bowl champion. while the comparison was intended as praise, nathan cleary was quick to brush it off with his trademark humility.
“tom brady is the greatest of all time. i’m just a kid from penrith who loves playing footy,” cleary said with a chuckle. “it’s pretty funny, but i’m not taking it seriously. i’ve got a long way to go.”
cleary’s composure under pressure has drawn widespread acclaim, particularly after his heroics in the 2023 grand final, where he orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in nrl history. with three titles under his belt at just 26, many believe he has the potential to go down as one of the best playmakers the game has ever seen.
but before he resumes the grind, cleary is set for a trip to las vegas, where he plans to unwind and take in some american sports. the panthers are set to open the 2025 nrl season in the us city, making his getaway a chance to get an early feel for the environment.
“i’ve never been to vegas before, so i’m pretty excited,” he said. “it’ll be good to just relax, have a bit of fun, and watch some sport over there.”
when asked if he would be catching any nfl games, cleary admitted he was keen to see brady’s former team, the new england patriots, in action, though he insisted he wouldn’t be drawing too many comparisons between himself and the retired nfl great.
“i do enjoy watching nfl, and brady was unreal to watch,” he said. “but i’m not about to start calling plays like him.”
with cleary locked in at penrith for the foreseeable future, the comparisons to brady may persist as he continues to chase greatness in rugby league. but for now, he’s just looking forward to a well-earned break before tackling another season with the reigning premiers.
