Michael Cleary

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.