Nathan Cleary’s Honours at the GQ Australia Men of the Year Awards
Australian rugby league star Nathan Cleary has been crowned Sportsman of the Year at the 2025 edition of the GQ Men of the Year Awards, held by GQ Australia in association with BOSS.
The award recognises Cleary’s outstanding achievements in the year, both on and off the field. As half-back for the Penrith Panthers and a stalwart for NSW and Australia, Cleary’s consistency, leadership and clutch performances have cemented his status as one of the game’s premier talents.
At the Bondi Pavilion gala in Sydney, the prestigious event celebrated Australia’s top performers across sport, fashion, culture and entertainment. In his acceptance, Cleary expressed gratitude, humility and the desire to keep raising the bar: “I want to be relentless,” he stated in a post-award interview.
What makes the win especially significant is the competition he overcame. While GQ did not publish a full list of finalists for the Sportsman category, it is known that the night featured some of Australia’s best and brightest across disciplines. That Cleery emerged at the top highlights his standing not only in rugby league but in the broader sporting culture.
In accepting the award, Cleary also reflected on the journey — the highs of premierships, the grind of training, and the pressures of being in the public eye. His red-carpet presence demonstrated a different side of the sportsman: stylish, poised and comfortable beyond the paddock.
This accolade adds a new chapter to Cleary’s growing legacy. As he continues to push for further success with the Panthers and the national team, the GQ recognition serves as a cultural endorsement of his influence and impact. There’s little doubt: 2025 will be remembered as a milestone year in Nathan Cleary’s distinguished career.
