Ivan Cleary not once feared his famous son Nathanโs career would be cut short by a horrific leg injury โ and declared he would love nothing more than for the Dally M winner to pledge his future to the Panthers.
โSunday was probably the first time I can remember where the line between being a coach and a dad got blurred,โ Ivan told this masthead.
โIt wasnโt easy. It was probably lucky it happened close to half-time. I went down and did my half-time speech, which obviously wasnโt that good, and I went and saw him. [Wife] Bec and my eldest daughter Indi were a mess, and that was heavy.
โYou have to try and get on with it.
โObviously, the nature of the injury was pretty horrific. I knew straight away it was bad. I also felt shitty because I had seen how hard he had worked, just to get back on the field. He gets 10 minutes, then that happened.โ
What Nathan does with his next contract has been one of the biggest rugby league stories of the year, with Penrith having already started discussions about a new deal.
Even though Ivan will finish up as coach at the end of next year, he made it clear he wanted Nathan to stay put.
โOf course I do,โ said Ivan, when asked about Nathan inking a new Penrith contract.
โIn my own heart Iโve always wanted him to stay. Ultimately, itโs his decision, but Iโd definitely like him to stay.โ
As for the man himself having second thoughts about ending his coaching career, Ivan said: โIโm very comfortable with my decision, not just for me but the club. I think itโs the right time. Days like Sunday just make you more hungry [to win in 2027].โ
Heartbroken Edwards
Aside from gruesome scenes featuring Clearyโs leg bent out of shape, the reaction from his teammates was just as heartbreaking, including Dylan Edwards, who was captured on TV putting his hands on his head in sheer disbelief before consoling his good mate.
โItโs something youโre not used to seeing on the footy field โ it was so hard to see, especially him being one of my great mates,โ Edwards said.
The fullback had his left knee in a brace after playing more than half a game of footy with a PCL injury. As for whether he will need surgery and be forced to miss the World Cup, Edwards said: โIโm not too sure. Iโll have to talk to โKevvyโ [coach Kevin Walters]; Iโll be in this thing [the brace] for a bit and see how it goes.โ
Arrow honoured
So how does Jai Arrow feel about being invited to NRL Grand Final Day, and having 80,000 fans do the โarrowโ gesture as he strolls past them to the sound of You Will Never Walk Alone?
โItโs nice I can try and keep raising awareness for everyone living with MND โ Iโve been blown away by all the support from rugby league supporters and the NRL, and it will be an honour to be there this weekend,โ said the South Sydney forward who was forced to retire this year because of MND.
When told the AFL had Kylie Minogue perform at their grand final, Arrow quipped: โI actually used to be a good singer, and while I may not be as good-looking as Kylie Minogue, at least I wonโt cost the NRL a dollar for my โperformanceโ.โ
Arrow says the Roosters will be hard to beat, โbut Iโd love to see the Knights winโ.
The 31-year-old added he will fly to Europe on Monday, where he will wed his partner Berina โ the pair married in Sydney earlier this year, just in case Arrowโs condition deteriorated and he was unable to say โI doโ overseas โ and will also spend time in Cyprus undergoing revolutionary treatment.
Meeting Pongaโs partner
Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga was accompanied on the Dally Mโs red carpet by his partner, swimwear founder Mimi Bowell, who said of โKPโ: โHeโs been pretty relaxed. The atmosphere in Newcastle has been incredible. Itโs a super supportive town to be in.
โIโm excited for him and proud because itโs been his dream to make the grand final. Iโm from Adelaide, we donโt have an NRL team, so I was a Crows supporter. Iโm a Newcastle fan now.โ
Millie retirement
Like Daly Cherry-Evans, Millie Elliott is hoping to bow out of the NRL with a premiership for the Roosters.
Elliott is only 28 and says she may have a bit of โFOMOโ [fear of missing out] when the season rolls around next year, but was not looking past Sundayโs decider against Brisbane.
Husband, South Sydney forward Adam Elliott, would be decked out in Roosters colours come game day.
โI have to put on Souths colours when I support him, so itโs only fair,โ Elliott said.
Dearden bub watch
Still on Australia and the World Cup, Tom Dearden is a big chance to wear the green and gold, especially with Cleary out of action, and does not expect to miss any Test matches, despite his Sydney-based partner, Millie Oliver, expecting their first child in the middle of the tournament.
โWeโre at 35 weeks, weโve only got a month to go, itโs all a surprise,โ Dearden said.
โIโd love to be a part of the World Cup squad. Hopefully, the birth lines up in the middle of games.โ
Millie added: โHeโll be there for the birth, then go back and play every game.โ
Handsome Herbie
The Sydney Roosters have been heavily linked to Dolphins centre and English international Herbie Farnworth, not that he knows โ or cares.
โIโve not heard anything about it myself, I was only focused on the finals. Now weโve got the World Cup โ hopefully Iโve got a busy month ahead of me,โ Farnworth said.
โIโm sure my manager is doing a good job behind the scenes and will bring something to me. The Dolphins are a great club, we showed what we can do this year, and Iโm sure we can get something done.โ
Asked if he was not the best-looking man in rugby league, then who was, Farnworth said: โJack Bostock thinks he is at the moment. Heโs also just got a fresh [hair] cut.โ
Bostock said last weekend was rough for the family after his Dolphinsโ premiership dream ended on the same weekend his sister, Indie Bostock, who plays for the Gold Coast Titans, also tanked in the grand final qualifier.
โI think she didnโt want to embarrass me; she had a great year, her Titans team is young, similar to the Dolphins, so hopefully sheโs back there next year,โ Bostock said.
Fellow Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa was in a moonboot, but assured this masthead he would be fit for Tonga at the World Cup.
Fifita embrace
David Fifita had nothing but love for Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook, with the pair sharing a close bond during their time together on the Gold Coast.
โJustin is a family man, he got me to the Titans, when he left, it was unfortunate, and I missed him,โ Fifita said.
โHe sends me messages and checks up on me, and I do the same to him. I have a good love for Justin. Heโs easy to talk to and just a relaxed, chilled guy. Heโs one of the favourite coaches Iโve had.โ
Souths teammate Keaon Koloamatangi, who is bound for St George Illawarra, said he learned this week he would not require knee surgery and was available for the Cup. He informed Tongan coach Kristian Woolf late Wednesday that his preference was to wear the green and gold.
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