Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Nathan Cleary among six Panthers leaders

Penrith have opted for a six-man captaincy model for this year's NRL season, with playmaker Nathan Cleary featuring among the group..

Panthers
James Maloney and Ivan Cleary are among a six-strong leadership group at the Panthers this season. (AAP)

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has selected son Nathan as part of a six-man leadership group to lead the NRL club for the 2019 season.

Nathan Cleary joins James Maloney, James Tamou, Isaah Yeo, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and Josh Mansour as captains announced by the club on Thursday.

"We've taken our time to decide on this leadership model and this specific group of players to ensure we deliver what is best for the Panthers this season," Ivan Cleary said.

"This model provides our team with strong leadership through cooperation, which is absolutely vital to success in a team environment."

Cleary's decision comes four months after his controversial return to the club, having been released from the final two years of his Wests Tigers deal.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

He also used a five-man captaincy model at the Tigers last year, including Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer and Benji Marshall, who were all new faces at the time.

It was widely expected Yeo or Maloney would resume their roles at the Panthers after taking over mid-last year following the shock retirement of Peter Wallace.

Watene-Zelezniak is the current New Zealand skipper, while both Maloney and Tamou are former Kangaroos and NSW State of Origin representatives.

The sextet will now share the role in what looms as a significant season for a side considered a genuine premiership threat.

"The shared leadership model will also encourage leadership from players outside the named group," Ivan Cleary said.

"We are confident it will see every Panthers player contribute in their own way and help create real ownership of this team in 2019."

Maloney, Yeo and Mansour will all feature in Saturday's trial against South Sydney, while Nathan, Watene-Zelezniak and Tamou are being rested.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world