What’s the Buzz: Former Roosters teammate set to join Mitchell Pearce at Catalans

A premiership-winning former teammate of Mitchell Pearce is set to join the halfback in Europe on a deal worth close to $800,000.

Panthers captain Nathan Cleary. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Former Maroons State of Origin forward Dylan Napa is likely to join his old Sydney Roosters teammate Mitchell Pearce at Catalans in the UK Super League.

Three Super League clubs – Catalans, Leeds and Hull Kingston Rovers – have all offered Napa an opportunity in the UK to earn around $800,000 over two years.

The opportunity to play alongside Pearce and under Steve McNamara, his old assistant coach at the Roosters, is most appealing.

Despite Pearce moving to Newcastle and Napa to the Canterbury Bulldogs, the pair have remained close friends.

Catch all the ICC T20 World Cup action live & exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today.

Dylan Napa is set to head to the Super League. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Napa is an Origin and premiership-winning front-rower and still only 28, an age when good props fully mature. He has had mild interest from NRL clubs but for nowhere near the money he can earn at Catalans.

There was a temptation to stay in Australia and investigate getting a start at the Dolphins, whose coach Wayne Bennett tried to sign Napa when he was last at the Broncos.

Napa is waiting for Pearce to get a release from Newcastle and finalise his deal with the French based club committing himself.

Cleary may ruin Blues’ captaincy hopes

Nathan Cleary is in danger of costing himself the highest honours in rugby league.

We’re talking about the captaincy of the Kangaroos and the NSW Blues down the track.

There is more to captaincy than leading a team on to the football field, winning premierships and a Clive Churchill Medal.

It’s about setting the right example off it.

It’s about dealing with sponsors, the media, behaving appropriately on social media and being a role model for impressionable young fans.

Nathan Cleary is in danger of costing himself the chance to captain the Blues and Australia. Picture: NRL Photos

Once Daly Cherry Evans and James Tedesco are eventually done with rep football, it will be Cleary and the likes of South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Cameron Murray who will be vying for the Australian captaincy.

It will come down to the better person. The guy with the better image and the better reputation to lead his country.

Right now, Murray is at least 10 lengths in front of him.

Cleary is now 24 years of age. He is not a kid. He’s had six seasons of NRL and 120 games.

It’s time, in fact long overdue, he grew up and made a choice between his mates and his leadership responsibilities.

Supporting the disgraced sex-tape criminal Tyrone May publicly is so dumb.

Nathan Cleary’s post on Instagram in support of sacked Panther Tyrone May.

By all means ring him, text him or go to see him … but do it in private and don’t advertise it.

Cleary has had enough chances. He defied state health orders around Covid last year and lied to the NRL integrity unit about it … and now this.

It’s a shame because he’s such a great footballer that in 10 years we could be talking about him in the same breath as Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston. That’s how good he is.

He just needs to wake up to himself.

DEMETRIOU STAYS CONNECTED

It takes a brave NRL head coach to have a social media account on Twitter, although we are aware of a couple who have burner accounts to keep an eye on the journos.

New South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou says he will be keeping his Twitter account open despite all the pressure and criticism that comes with the job.

Happy 19th wedding anniversary to my rock. Blessed is an understatement ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3KT9XFGrGI

— Jason Demetriou (@DemetriouJason) November 2, 2021

“It’s about connecting with people,” Demetriou told me, “and it’s a good way to stay in touch with friends I’ve met overseas.”

Your columnist suggested it could get ugly if he starts losing a couple of games.

“If you’re winning they’ll be saying great things and if you’re losing they’ll be bagging you,” he said. “It’s not really about footy but about my day to day life. It’s more personal than work related.”

His Twitter handle makes no reference to him being South Sydney’s head coach. It simply says: “Husband and Dad to three beautiful girls.”

Last week he tweeted: “Happy 19th wedding anniversary to my rock. Blessed is an understatement” referring to his wife Natalie.

And also: “One year today for this legend. What a welcome addition to our clan,” referring to the family’s pet Cavoodle.

You can follow Jason at @DemetriouJason … but just be kind.

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Former Roosters teammate set to join Mitchell Pearce at Catalans