It’s unusual to think about Nathan Cleary in some other NRL jersey than a Penrith one, and whereas the prospect of it is extremely unlikely, a bombshell report reveals the star half could a minimum of test the waters.
Cleary, who’s beneath contract with the Panthers till the finish of 2027, can be free to negotiate with rival groups from November 1.
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Code Sports journalist Brent Read revealed Cleary is leaning in direction of doing simply that.
“I rang around about this today and the impression I get is people around Nathan Cleary expect him to test his value from November 1. Not necessarily to leave, but to experience or find out what is out there,” Read stated on NRL360.
“I can’t imagine him playing for another NRL team. I don’t think he’ll play against Penrith or his dad but he wants to see what is out there and there are other codes. That’s what I imagine.
“Nathan spoke about it the other day and he said he’s in no rush which I think gave the impression he’ll see what is out there on November 1.”
Cleary is on the record as saying he’s “open to anything”, and given all he’s achieved at the Panthers, NRL legend Gorden Tallis says it wouldn’t shock him if Cleary needed a brand new problem elsewhere.
“It’s probably a 90% chance that he’s going to stay there but he’d be crazy to not see the other options given all he’s achieved and there might be a part of him that goes why can’t I try and win somewhere else,” Tallis stated.
So, what kind of price ticket could Cleary command?
As it stands, Kalyn Ponga is the highest-paid participant, on round $1.4 million. Popular perception is that Cleary would smash that determine on the open market.
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“He’d be the first $2 million player. If he left Penrith, someone would pay him $2 million,” journalist Michael Carayannis stated.
“He’d be the closest we’ve ever seen to the $2 million mark,” Read added.
Worryingly for the Panthers, Cleary isn’t the solely participant that’s off contract at the finish of subsequent season.
The halfback headlines a robust listing of 10 gamers, together with Origin stars Brian To’o and Isaah Yeo.
“There’s no way Penrith will be keeping all of those players,” NRL360 host Braith Anasta opined.
Carayannis tended to agree, believing guys like To’o and Moses Leota would entice bigger cash provides elsewhere.
“Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen are leaving to Perth at the end of the year so yeah there’s a salary cap squeeze,” Carayannis stated.
“You look at guys like Mitch Kenny, Brian To’o, Moses Leota and Liam Martin who have been well paid but probably haven’t cashed in as much as they could have… now they’re in line for one.”
LIST OF PANTHERS THAT BECOME FREE AGENTS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2026
Nathan Cleary
Isaah Yeo
Mitch Kenny
Liam Martin
Blaize Talagi
Brian To’o
Moses Leota
Paul Alamoti
Isaiah Papali’i
Tom Jenkins
