Nathan Cleary couldn't resist reading the social media stories about his father Ivan.
They were often brutal in their assessments of Cleary senior's call to prematurely leave the Wests Tigers and re-join the Penrith Panthers to coach his son.
Disloyal. Mercenary. Liar. Traitor. Just a few of the harsh labels thrown at Ivan over the past few months.
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Nathan – who signed a five-year extension at Penrith in September before Ivan's return to the club became official – was caught in the crossfire.
While the NSW Origin halfback largely brushed off any criticism, he admitted it took a heavy toll on his mother and school-age siblings.
"It got pretty bad at stages. It can be pretty hard out there sometimes," the 21-year-old Cleary told reporters on Wednesday.
"It was hard at the start, you pick up your phone and you see constant articles and you just want to read them. Any time your family name is brought into disrepute is not a great time.
"For my little siblings and my mum to go through all that, it was kind of tough on them.
"But now that it's all over, everyone's happy and just looking to get on with it.
"... I think more than anything, my mum and siblings are more stoked because me and dad are immune to it now.
"We're in the game and that's what comes with it."
Season 2019 will mark the first time Cleary has worked with his father – Ivan was sacked from the Panthers in 2015, a year before Nathan made his NRL debut.
Asked what it was like to deal with his parent in a professional capacity, Cleary smiled wryly.
"It's all right. I've lived 20 years under my dad now," he said.
"It was pretty weird at the start actually, when he first [came] and he was up there speaking.
"I'm very lucky to be in this position with my dad as the coach – not many people would be able to have this in their career.
"I got coached by him at under-six soccer at Cromer Strikers and that's about it."
However, Cleary doesn't expect any favours.
The Penrith captaincy is still yet to be decided for next season, but the star playmaker isn't overly keen to take on the role.
"I think that'll be a bit of favouritism, there'd be a bit of controversy about that," he said.
Cleary also knows he has to be on his best behaviour to avoid a spray from Ivan.
"Hopefully it doesn't happen," Cleary said.
"I'll try and stay on his good side. I've seen a few of his blow-ups and I don't want to be on the receiving end of one of those out there."
He revealed that being the coach's son has made him a popular target for Penrith's team pests.
"Reagan Campbell-Gillard comes out with a dad joke every single day, he's been the main offender," Cleary laughed.
"Jimmy Maloney will probably catch on soon but he's been taking it pretty lightly so far."
Although Cleary is excited to share the training paddock with his old man, there is one thing he refuses to do.
"Nah, we don't carpool. There was no way I was doing that!"
Cleary is still on restricted duties at training, having recently undergone reconstruction surgery on his ankle.
His halves partner James Maloney also had off-season surgery to fix a neck issue, telling journalists on Wednesday the extended rest can only be good.
Both are expected to be fit for round one.