NRL 2022 Market Watch: Teammates pressure Cameron Munster, Nathan and Ivan Cleary a $10 million bargain

With Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen already locked in, Cameron Munster is the final piece in the Storm playmaking puzzle.

Star playmaker Jahrome Hughes says he’s been “getting stuck” into halves partner Cameron Munster about joining him in committing his future to Melbourne Storm.

Hughes recently inked a new deal with Storm until the end of 2026, while gun hooker Harry Grant (2025) and explosive winger Xavier Coates (2026) have also recommitted.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is also locked away until the end of 2025, with Munster seen as the final piece in the puzzle in securing Storm’s star-studded spine for the foreseeable future.

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However, Munster — who is still contracted until the end of next year — is reportedly being chased hard by the new Dolphins club, which has already poached Storm stars Jesse Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich for its debut season next year.

“I’ve been getting stuck into him actually, he’s giving me nothing at the moment,” Hughes said.

“Hopefully he can stay.

“That was I guess one of the key components of me staying was hopefully he would stay as well, but he has to do what he has to do.

“He’s got a young family, but I’m hoping he’s staying though.”

Grant said the retention of Munster was crucial for the club.

“I think that’s really important and a big one,” Grant said.

“I really hope he does stay, but at the end of the day it’s up to Cam and what’s best for him and his family as he’s got a little family now.

“He’s still got this year and next year and we don’t want to look too far ahead…(but) he’s a player you want to play alongside.

“You definitely don’t want to play against him like I did at the Tigers, it wasn’t fun.

“I’ll just leave it up to him and he’ll make the right decision.”

Cameron Munster is being chased by the Dolphins (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Storm face an in-form Cronulla on Saturday night in what will be former co-captain Dale Finucane and Nicho Hynes’ first time back at AAMI Park since joining the Sharks.

“They’re playing with a lot of energy and they just look like they’re enjoying themselves,” Grant said.

“I feel like Nicho and Dale are definitely leading a lot of their footy so it’s going to be exciting playing against them.

“Dale’s probably down here at the moment as he’s Craig’s favourite son so there will probably be a few family dinners before the game on the weekend.”

Cleary’s stunning sacrifice for club

Nathan Cleary has sacrificed the opportunity stay at the top rugby league’s rich list by turning his back on the open market to remain at Penrith and help keep their premiership contending squad together.

News Corp understands that Cleary will become the best paid player in the NRL next season, but the honour will be short-lived.

Nathan Cleary puts pen to paper on the new deal at the Panthers. Picture: Jonathan Ng

His three-year contract extension with the Panthers, officially signed on Wednesday morning, will take root from 2025 and likely see him take a pay cut to remain at Penrith until the end of 2027.

Cleary still stands to earn well in excess of $3 million over the three-year duration of his extension – his pay cheque will also increase in line with the salary cap.

However, he could have earned a lot more had he headed to the open market and chosen a path away from the Panthers and his father Ivan.

Instead, he and Ivan will stay together and work on retaining the bulk of the squad that has cut a swath through the NRL over the past two years.

Their ability to do so was helped by the altruism of their star halfback. Cleary’s decision to stay at Penrith for unders should help the club retain the likes of Steve Crichton, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Izack Tago, all of whom are off contract at the end of next year.

The more immediate priority is prolific winger Taylan May – scorer of six tries in three appearances – who is off contract at the end of this season.

The Panthers kicked off contract talks with May’s manager Darryl Mather on Wednesday as they look to keep the local junior in their ranks. Mather was the architect of the deals with the Clearys, having begun negotiations in earnest with Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher in early March.

Nathan and Ivan Cleary will be chasing plenty more premierships at the Panthers. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The talks accelerated rapidly and ran so smoothly a deal with father and son was completed within weeks.

“They were very easy negotiations,” Fletcher said.

“I would be certain both gentlemen if they went on the open market would receive bigger salaries. I took the agreement back to the board. They signed off on it. It was an easy process and if all negotiations were like that they would be great.

“They realised it was part of a puzzle we had to put together.”

Nathan Cleary has become the pulse of the Panthers and his decision to remain no doubt had hearts racing at the foot of the mountains.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” he said.

“It is kind of hard to put into words. I came over here as a 14 year old kid. It is home for me now. It means everything to me and also my family.

“I am absolutely blessed to be at this club. I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else. I love it here and it was never really a consideration to be anywhere else.”

OFFICIAL ✍🏽 Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and co-captain Nathan Cleary have re-signed with the club on long-term deals.

📝 https://t.co/Om2fm7pyav#pantherpridepic.twitter.com/uRj1RRrs3p

— Penrith Panthers 🏆 (@PenrithPanthers) April 13, 2022

Ivan Cleary acknowledged he and his son had spoken about the challenge the club faced in keeping their premiership-winning squad together.

“It was probably a frank conversation between Nat and I,” Ivan Cleary said.

“I think that is probably one of the advantages we have had. We have had this conversation with other players as well over the last couple of years about this situation we are in where we can’t keep the team together.

“It is not just Nathan – there have been a bunch of guys who have signed here who could have got more money elsewhere.
“That is going to be a conversation we are going to keep having. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t. But I think it is a rap for Nat that he thinks that way and he wants to try to keep his team together.”

Together, contracts of father and son, coach and star, over there next five years will be worth upwards of $10 million. It is a significant investment in the club’s future, but also a smart one given their recent track record as architects of the Panthers’ success.