‘He’s quite keen to come to rugby’: Nathan Cleary at centre of bombshell defection claim

Nathan Cleary has been linked with a bombshell defection to rugby union with the Penrith halfback reportedly ‘keen’ on the switch.

Nathan Cleary has been linked to a bombshell defection to rugby union as he reportedly eyes up a new challenge.

The Panthers halfback has achieved almost everything possible in rugby league, having won four premierships, two Clive Churchill Medals, a State of Origin series and the World Cup for Australia, and over the past several months his representatives have reportedly been sussing out if a code hop could be on the cards.

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Since late last year rumours have circulated about Cleary potentially weighing up a move to rugby union.

Cleary spent his childhood years in a rugby-mad New Zealand household and has previously mentioned he’d consider a code switch in the future, although it still seemed like a long shot.

But according to Wallabies legend Tim Horan, it is far more than just a rumour.

“You might not have to wait too long (for him to be playing rugby,” Horan said in a segment on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.

“There’s been some rumours the last two months that he’s quite keen.

“I’ve heard it totally separate, he’s quite keen to come to rugby.”

Nathan Cleary has been linked to a bombshell rugby defection. Image Getty

The timing of Horan’s comments are significant, with Rugby Australia (RA) looking forward to the 2027 World Cup on home soil.

And with Joseph Sua’ali’i having immediate success in the 15-man code, the idea of having Cleary in Wallabies colours is a tantalising prospect.

However, despite that Horan doesn’t believe he is the right man to target, but does understand why RA officials would be interested.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing for Australian rugby to do, we’ve got a lot of talent coming through,” he said.

“But I tell you what, if Nathan Cleary says ‘I’m interested in playing the game’ you’ve got to have a coffee.”

Wallabies great Tim Horan believes Nathan Cleary is keen on a switch to rugby union.

Hamish McLennan believes Rugby Australia should target Nathan Cleary. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)

The latest development comes after former RA chairman Hamish McLennan claimed Cleary has been considering making the switch for a while.

At the end of last year, McLennan revealed up to six NRL stars were open to negotiating with RA for a cross-code defection.

He stated he was unsure whether the players were aware of the third-party approach but insisted there was genuine interest.

“Earlier this year, I got told Cleary and a few other top NRL players were keen to come to rugby via a third party,” McLennan told The Daily Telegraph in November.

“It wasn’t directed at me, but I believe it was all real. Perhaps they (Cleary and the other NRL players) wanted to test the waters with a few people, but by then I had left Rugby Australia.

“(But) RA has to go after Cleary, absolutely.”

Originally published as ‘He’s quite keen to come to rugby’: Nathan Cleary at centre of bombshell defection claim