Michael Cleary

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Michael Arthur Cleary
Born
Tuesday, 30th April, 1940
Current Age
83 years and 334 days
Place Of Birth
Randwick, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Mike Cleary had a remarkable sporting career, representing Australia in three different sports before being elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Coogee where fittingly, he was the Minister for Sport. A product of Christian Brothers Waverley, Cleary joined Randwick RU club in 1960 but his season was hampered by a bout of glandular fever. He scored 45 tries during the 1961 season and played in 6 Tests against Fiji, France and on the tour of South Africa. The following year, he joined Souths but as an accomplished sprinter, he retained his amateur status in order to represent Australia at the 1962 Commonwealth Games. Cleary was a broNZe medallist in the 100 yards final in Perth and two years later, he beat legendary league speedster Ken Irvine in a $2000 match race at Wentworth Park. (In 1966 Cleary won the Australian Professional 130m Sprint Race.) Cleary earned his first Test jersey on the wing against Great Britain in 1962 (after earlier being sent off in the NSW v. Great Britain tour match). After playing against NZ the following year, he was selected for the 1963-64 Kangaroo tour. Clearly played in one Test against France on tour but scored 14 tries in 20 other matches. He appeared in three more Test series, against France (1964) and NZ (1965 & 1969) and won two premierships with the great Souths teams of the late 1960s. Cleary's length of the field try in the 1968 grand final against Manly was indicative of the speed he produced when given a little space on the football field. In retirement, Cleary was actively involved in the media as a sports commentator and in 2000, was appointed to the NSWRL Board of Directors and was awarded an AO for his services to sport and the community.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Craven Mild Cup 32 21 0   - 63 23 8 1 71.88% List
NRL 152 93 1   - 281 92 58 2 60.53% List
Interstate Matches 10 13 -   - 39 10 0 0 100.00% List
Tour Matches Sydney Firsts 3 6 -   - 18 2 1 0 66.67% List
Tour Matches New South Wales Firsts 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
Test Series 8 5 -   - 15 4 4 0 50.00% List
The Ashes 1 - -   - - 0 1 0 0.00% List
Tour Matches Australia 13 10 -   - 30 9 4 0 69.23% List
City vs Country Firsts 3 6 -   - 18 3 0 0 100.00% List
NRL Finals 11 6 -   - 18 9 2 0 81.82% List


International

Test Matches - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Australia 1962-65 8 5 -   - 15 4 4 0 50.00% List


Representative

Australia - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Sydney Firsts 1962-64 4 6 -   - 18 3 1 0 75.00% List
NSW City Seconds 1962-63, 1966-67 4 3 -   - 9 2 2 0 50.00% List
NSW Firsts 1962-67, 1969 12 13 -   - 39 11 1 0 91.67% List
NSW City Firsts 1964-65, 1969 3 6 -   - 18 3 0 0 100.00% List
Overall1962-1969 23 28 0   0 84 19 4 0 82.61% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Souths NSWRFL 1962 9 12 1   - 38 3 5 1 33.33% List
Souths NSWRFL 1963 15 6 -   - 18 3 12 0 20.00% List
Souths NSWRFL 1964 17 14 -   - 42 10 7 0 58.82% List
Souths NSWRFL 1965 19 13 -   - 39 12 7 0 63.16% List
Souths NSWRFL 1966 16 11 -   - 33 7 9 0 43.75% List
Souths NSWRFL 1967 22 9 -   - 27 16 6 0 72.73% List
Souths NSWRFL 1968 16 9 -   - 27 13 3 0 81.25% List
Souths NSWRFL 1969 16 9 -   - 27 13 3 0 81.25% List
Souths NSWRFL 1970 9 5 -   - 15 9 0 0 100.00% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRFL 1971 13 5 -   - 15 6 6 1 46.15% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Souths 1962-70 139 88 1   - 266 86 52 1 61.87% List
Eastern Suburbs 1971 13 5 -   - 15 6 6 1 46.15% List
Overall1962-1971 152 93 1   0 281 92 58 2 60.53% List

Your Say

  • roy horrigan
    13/04/2012

    was at wenty park the night he beat ken irvine in a
    match race.ken beat him out but big mike finished
    too strong in the last 20 mtrs.disappointing end to
    a wonderful career his last season with easts.had
    lost a bit of pace and had handling problems.at his
    peak was an outstanding athlete .also used to do the wrestling commentary with jack little who was
    tommy hanlons sidekick on it could be you,a well
    known television show of the sixties.

  • ROSSY François
    15/11/2017

    Bonjour,
    You made a very good job thanks !

    I am french (78 years old) living in France.
    In years sixties I use to live in Sydney and I have fond memories of our times training (for running) Michael Cleary and I at Ruschutters Bay Oval. Michael was a great champion and a famous rugby League player. I still remenber his try (1968 Grand Final between South Sydney and Manly).
    I know his brother, Denis Cleary, a good heavyweight boxer in 1963/1964 and Rugby Union player with Randwick for 10 yrs.

    I have a very good souvenir of the time I spent in Australia... a fabulous country. Best Regards

    François ROSSY
    Résidence Le Grand Large
    73 rue des Dunes
    14150 OUISTREHAM
    FRANCE

  • Boyd B
    30/04/2020

    Is he any relation to Nathan cleary and Ivan?

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Contributions: Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Michael Borg, Alan Katzmann, Bill Bates