Nathan Cleary Credits Ukrainian Grandmother's Resilience as Key Influence on His Football Career
NRL star Nathan Cleary has spoken about the significant influence his Ukrainian-born grandmother Maree Stuart has had on his resilience and character development. Maree immigrated to Australia at age three and has recently begun sharing more about her Ukrainian heritage with her grandchildren, inspiring them to explore their cultural roots. The article highlights how multiple NRL players with Ukrainian heritage are increasingly embracing and representing their family backgrounds.
Nathan Cleary, widely regarded as one of the best footballers in the NRL, has attributed much of his resilience to his grandmother Maree Stuart, who immigrated to Australia from Ukraine at age three. Maree, who grew up in Bass Hill and spent much of her life not discussing her Ukrainian heritage, has recently begun sharing more about her background as her grandchildren have expressed interest in learning about their roots. Cleary noted that his grandmother's resilience and stubbornness—qualities she developed through her immigrant experience—have deeply influenced him, alongside his father Ivan (a former footballer and four-time premiership-winning Panthers coach) and other family members. The article also notes that other family members, including Cleary's brother Jett, have represented Ukraine in rugby league competitions, and that Cleary is interested in growing the sport in Ukraine. The piece includes similar comments from NSW Blues player Hudson Young, whose grandmother also arrived in Australia as a Ukrainian migrant, suggesting a broader pattern of NRL players with Ukrainian heritage embracing their cultural identity.
What different sources said
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
Wonder where Nathan Cleary gets his resilience from? Straight from his Ukrainian ‘Nan’
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