What’s the Buzz: Why Nathan Cleary sacrifices millions in endorsement deals, cost of Panthers’ relocation revealed

Nathan Cleary is a marketing dream – the NRL’s best player and one half of Australia’s most high-profile sporting couple. So why has the Panthers star has turned his back on an annual $2.5 million payday? BUZZ ROTHFIELD reveals.

Nathan Cleary puts premiership rings way ahead of his own pay packet – and here is the proof.

The Penrith superstar is sacrificing millions of dollars in endorsement opportunities, as the face of rugby league, to focus on his relentless pursuit of more titles.

The champion halfback – now rated alongside all-time greats Andrew Johns and Johnathan Thurston – could potentially earn $2.5 million annually and blow every other player in the history of the game out of the park.

Except that money is not his motivation. Outside of deals with Rexona, Adidas, Channel 9 and his $1.2m Panthers’ contract, Cleary has turned down some huge corporate deals in recent years.

“Nathan could earn an extra $1m a year if he really wanted to,” his agent George Mimis says.

“I’ve got a list as long as my arm of endorsement opportunities that he has chosen not to take up.”

Nathan Cleary is sacrificing millions of dollars in endorsements in pursuit of premierships. Picture: Jonathan Ng

It all comes back to Cleary’s total focus on footy ahead of fame.

Mimis has managed many of the biggest names in league. We’re talking champions Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Darren Lockyer.

Yet he says: “I’ve never had anyone as committed as Nathan.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see anyone as absorbed in his game as Cooper Cronk, but Nathan is.

“He has that incredible work ethic and hunger to keep on improving himself.”

Mimis says the attraction for sponsors is his natural character.

“He’s very unaffected, despite all the success,” Mimis said.

“Just a normal, feet-on-the- ground, down-to-earth person.

“On a podcast recently, Nathan said he felt strange to see himself on a billboard for a Rexona campaign. That’s just who he is.”

Cleary’s long-distance relationship with Matildas star Mary Fowler has lifted his profile to another level outside of league. But the on-field goals and opportunities outweigh the financial rewards for him.

Panthers general manager Shane Elford speaks about his constant craving for improvement.

“As far as prep goes, he’s the best I’ve seen in the 27 years I’ve been in rugby league,” Elford said.

“He’s just so meticulous. Practice, practice and practice.

“I’ve lost count of the number of times he’s held up the team bus because he’s last off at training.”

“And that’s the secret – he will never stop trying to learn and striving to be better.”

REVEALED: COST OF PANTHERS’ RELOCATION

Penrith will be paid more than $400,000 by the NRL for bringing this home game against the Sharks to Vegas.

Costs however will bring the profit back to around $150,000.

They need every penny of it because the move to CommBank Stadium this year is costing them a fortune. Membership, as expected, is well down on previous years.

All up they have budgeted to lose $3 million in turnover by not playing at home while the new stadium is being built.