Nathan Cleary is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League. Widely considered one of the best players in the modern era, Cleary won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2021 and 2023 as well as Dally M Halfback of the year in 2020 and 2021. As co-captain, Cleary also led the Penrith Panthers to five consecutive grand final appearances, including four consecutive premiership wins from 2021 to 2024.

Cleary is the son of coach and former professional rugby league footballer Ivan Cleary who coaches him at the Penrith Panthers. Cleary was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He spent a number of his childhood years living in Auckland, New Zealand while his father was playing for, and later coaching, the New Zealand Warriors. He attended Sacred Heart College, Auckland for two years and, having grown up playing soccer, Cleary switched to rugby league during his pre-teens, playing at a junior level for the Mount Albert Lions in Auckland and the Penrith Brothers in Sydney.

Cleary progressed through the Penrith club's junior system, playing in their Harold Matthews Cup (under 16) and S. G. Ball Cup (under 18) teams, the latter of which he captained in 2015. Starting the season as Penrith's first-choice halfback in the NYC, Cleary was selected to play for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis in May. Cleary made his NSW Cup Nw debut for the Penrith club in round 11, the only game he'd play in that competition in 2016.

Cleary made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Melbourne Storm at five-eighth in Round 13, 2016. Cleary scored his first NRL try, as well as kicking five goals in Penrith's 31-24 win over Manly at Brookvale Oval when he was just 18 years of age. After Cleary was named in Penrith's squad for the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines, Cleary was named in the NSW City Origin representative team to play in the last ever City vs Country game. He finished the season as highest pointscorer in the NRL with a total of 228 points, the youngest player to achieve this since 1913. He played in all 26 games for the Penrith club, scoring 11 tries and kicking 92 goals. Cleary also became the youngest player ever to score 200 points in a season.

In June 2018, Cleary made his debut for New South Wales in Game 1 of the 2018 State of Origin series against Queensland, starting at halfback in the 22-12 win at the MCG. He played in all three Origin games that year for the Blues at halfback. In the 2020 qualifying final against the Sydney Roosters, Cleary scored a hat-trick and kicked a field goal in Penrith's 29–28 victory. Cleary played a total of 21 games for Penrith in the 2020 NRL season including the grand final loss to the Melbourne Storm.

Cleary played a total of 20 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney. Cleary was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for being man of the match. He was also named Dally M Halfback of the year. Cleary played for 17 games for Penrith throughout the 2022 season, including their NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta. In October he was named in the Australia squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. In the second match of Australia's 2021 Rugby League World Cup campaign, Cleary made his debut for Australia scoring one try and kicking 12 goals during an 84-0 victory over Scotland. Cleary played for Australia in their 2021 Rugby League World Cup final victory over Samoa.

In the 2023 preliminary final, Cleary scored a try and kicked seven goals in Penrith's dominant 38-4 victory over Melbourne. Cleary played 22 matches for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the club's 26-24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership. Cleary won the Clive Churchill medal as man of the match after he inspired the Penrith side to come back from a 16 point deficit with less than 20 minutes to go, the largest successful Grand Final turnaround of NRL history despite suffering a grade 3 torn PCL in the ninth minute of the match.

Nathan Cleary played a total of 13 matches for Penrith in the 2024 NRL season including the clubs 14–6 grand final victory over the Melbourne Storm. In Round 7 of the 2025 NRL season, Cleary became Penrith's all-time record point scorer during the clubs 40–12 victory over the Sydney Roosters. His exceptional football career speaks volumes, and he is poised to become one of the sport's all-time greats.