Penrith Panthers laugh off rugby union’s latest publicity stunt around a Nathan Cleary defection

Penrith Panthers and the ARLC have slammed reports about the NRL’s best player, Nathan Cleary, wanting to defected to rugby union and Wallabies. See what they said.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has lampooned suggestions from rugby union that Penrith and NSW superstar Nathan Cleary was considering a shock code switch and demanded the rah-rahs stop “using our great game to generate publicity.”

And V’landys thanked rugby union for letting Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase to defect to the NRL, saying: “He’s now a household name since coming to rugby league.”

A source close to the Panthers said: “This isn’t a Lachlan Galvin circus. Nathan is an honourable and loyal person, so any suggestion of an early release is ridiculous. It isn’t in Nathan’s DNA, it’s not who he is.

“Nathan still has two-and-a-half years left on his Panthers’ contract. Rugby obviously doesn’t know Nathan as a person. He will fulfil his contract.”

Cleary’s manager, George Mimis, preferred not to comment.

Panthers deputy chairman and club legend Greg Alexander said: “I would be surprised if Nathan went to rugby union. He is such a Penrith Panthers boy and I can’t imagine him playing anywhere else.

“I’d hate to think Nathan would play anywhere else, whether it be at another club or rugby union.

“There hasn’t been any talk about it, nothing has been raised and I haven’t spoken to Nathan about it.”

Nathan Cleary will honour his Panthers contract. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt claimed Cleary may want to “spread his wings” with former Test centre Tim Horan further igniting speculation by claiming the Panthers halfback was “quite keen to come to rugby.”

While the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia would be an attraction, Cleary, 27, has never indicated a desire to quit rugby league and remains under contact at the Panthers until the end of that same year.

V’landys laughed off talk that Cleary wanted to switch codes, saying: “Rugby Union must be getting no media cut through so they use our great game to generate publicity.

“Isn’t taking a former rugby league player as Wallabies coach (ex-Bears winger Les Kiss) enough publicity from us?

“And by the way also thanks for Mark Nawaqanitawase – he’s now a household name since coming to rugby league.”

Joe Schmidt, left, witrh future head coach Les Kiss. Picture: AP Photo/Rick Rycroft

After leading Penrith to four successive premierships, Cleary has established himself as the elite halfback of his era, possibly the greatest of all-time.

He was also a driving force — albeit his goal kicking was askew — behind NSW’s win over Queensland last week.

Schmidt admitted watching Cleary play in State of Origin I and gave reasons why the champion playmaker may want to jump codes.

“I watched the State of Origin,“ Schmidt said. “He obviously went to Sacred Heart College in New Zealand when Ivan (Cleary, father and Panthers coach) was coaching the Warriors. That’s (All Blacks legend) Sean Fitzpatrick country, that’s Taniela Tupou country. So it’s certainly a rugby school.

“He played soccer as a young man. He’s played league so, you know, he might want to spread his wings and play another sport. But at the same time, we’ve got a really good stock there that we’re focused on in the very short term.”

Sensing a headline, Horan quickly jumped in and told Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven program that Cleary was contemplating a move to rugby union.

“You might not have to wait too long,” he said. “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.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing for Australian rugby to do, we’ve got a lot of talent coming through. But I tell you what, if Nathan Cleary says. ‘I’m interested in playing the game’ you’ve got to have a coffee (with him).”