Nathan Cleary is walking the walk.
The Penrith Panthers superstar had vowed to help great mate Tyson Pedro prepare for his professional boxing debut on February 26.
And Cleary delivered on that promise by getting in the ring for a spirited training session with the former UFC pugilist.
Watch Tyson Pedro’s highly anticipated boxing debut at Nowhere to Run, ad-free live and on demand for all Stan Sport subscribers from 7pm AEDT on February 26, with the main event and highlights also available on delay on 9Go! from 9.30pm AEDT
Nathan Cleary trains with Tyson Pedro. Instagram
With focus mitts on, Cleary felt the force of some heavy Pedro leather before getting a chilling warning.
“This is for all the Broncos fans aye,” Pedro said before aiming a big right hand at Cleary’s midsection.
Pedro, of course, was referring to the incredible 2023 NRL grand final.
READ MORE: NRL’s top 50 players: Origin skipper, breakout stars picked
READ MORE: ‘Profound sadness’ as jockey dies from race fall
READ MORE: Ange’s huge win in clash of giant clubs in crisis
Nathan Cleary of the Panthers celebrates with teammates during the 2023 NRL grand final. Getty
The Broncos led 24-8 after 56 minutes before Cleary inspired the greatest comeback in grand final history.
Cleary scored the winning try and was handed the Clive Churchill Medal after the 26-24 triumph.
Thankfully, Pedro is also a Panthers fan and the pair enjoyed a laugh at the banter.
Nathan Cleary trains with Tyson Pedro. Instagram
That didn’t stop Andrew Cunneen expressing some concern on Instagram.
“Oi, easy on the shoulders,” Cunneen wrote.
Cleary had shoulder surgery in November after playing through injury to win his fourth straight grand final.
Nathan Cleary trains with Tyson Pedro. Instagram
“Cheers for coming down and giving me some tips,” Pedro wrote.
Pedro will fight undefeated Pakistani sensation Taimoor Khan for the international bridgerweight title at Panthers Leagues Club.
“Tyson asked me to come down to give him a few tips for this fight, and while I don’t know much about fighting, I wanted to show my support and get behind him,” Cleary said.
“I love how Tyson has been testing himself, not only crossing codes from the MMA world to boxing, but also only going up against dangerous, top 10 opponents instead of taking the easy way out.”
Also on the card, Aussie star Jackson Jon England (17-3) will put on a guaranteed show, after wowing audiences for years with his hard fought contests and iron jaw.
So too will the prodigious Alex Leapai Jr, with the hulking 19-year-old heavyweight a perfect 4-0 as he lives up to his famous father’s boxing legacy, having turned down a promising NRL career with the Gold Coast Titans.
