"I don't know so much if he has passed it on," said Cleary of his unflappable nature.

"It's more a personality trait. He was definitely a calm coach and player."

It is perhaps this quality, more than any other, that has enabled Cleary to steer Penrith into the finals while still the youngest player in the NRL.

Cleary is, of course, the son of a gun. His father, Ivan, notched 435 NRL games as a player and coach during a distinguished career, a tally he may soon add to should a vacancy arise in the clipboard-holding ranks.

The sacking of the older Cleary as coach of Penrith has fast-tracked the debut of the younger one. Nathan made his debut against Melbourne in round 13, just a couple of days after extending his contract with the club. That debut, and the 13 first-grade appearances that followed, would not have happened had his father still been at the helm.

"Yeah, that's probably the case, but that's how it goes," Cleary said. "It definitely would have been hard for my dad to make those big choices, to get me a start. It's kind of worked out well and hopefully dad can get a coaching job in the next few weeks."

There will be no family feud should that eventuate. Nathan removed a clause from his coaching contract that would have allowed him to join his father should Ivan get a coaching gig elsewhere. Which means the older Cleary could soon be devising game plans attempting to stymie the impact of his son.

"We actually spoke about that not long ago, it would be pretty weird," Nathan Cleary said. "I look forward to it if it eventually happens."

At just 18, Cleary is still eligible for the National Youth Competition next season. However, he has graduated from St Dominic's College and the rugby league finishing school that is the under-20s, displaying a maturity beyond his years. Penrith coach Anthony Griffin saw Cleary's potential and, unencumbered by the claims of nepotism that would have followed had his predecessor made the decision, called the Australian Schoolboys half into the top team.

"I sat down with 'Hook' [Griffin] halfway through the season and he said: 'I'll try to get you a game during the Origin period'," Cleary said.

"I thought it would be just a one-off game, so I'm stoked to have got a few more after that. It's just all rolled on. It's awesome. It's a bit unexpected to come up this quick but I've really enjoyed it."

Asked if playing more than a dozen NRL games, including at least two of the play-off variety, were among the goals he had set himself at the start of the year, Cleary said: "No way, I didn't expect it at all. I wasn't even expecting to play one.

"It's all come pretty quick and I've just gone with the ride and really enjoyed it."

The ride continues. Neither the famous surname, nor the scrutiny that comes with wearing the No.7 jersey, has been a hindrance. Indeed, Cleary has formed a potent halves partnership with Bryce Cartwright. It's a curious mix that has worked. Cartwright is prone, at least from the outside, to be playing off the top of his head, while Cleary never loses his. The combination is one of the reasons the mountain men have won eight of their past nine encounters, including last weekend's flogging of September specialists Canterbury.

"I was definitely nervous coming into the game," Cleary said of his first play-offs experience. "I think seeing the Panthers fans there and getting out there amongst it, the nerves went away and I really enjoyed it. It made it better that we could get a victory out of it."

Upon officially becoming a member of the first-grade squad, Cleary was given a locker, the one next to captain Matt Moylan. He credited the fullback and senior players, including Peter Wallace, for helping him to make the transition from reggies.

"Not too bad," Cleary said when asked to sum up his rookie year. "I've got a lot of help around me with 'Moyza' and a few of the older boys [like] 'Wal'.

"I've learned a lot every game and I'm just trying to take it step by step, trying to improve my game by doing that."