Nathan Cleary Turns Down the PNG Chiefs and Is Set to Stay at Penrith Until the End of 2029
Nathan Cleary is set to sign a two-year contract extension with the Penrith Panthers, keeping him at the club until the end of 2029, Nine’s Danny Weidler reported on Wednesday. Cleary told the PNG Chiefs on Wednesday evening that he would stay.
Weidler expects the new deal to include a two-year option in Cleary’s favour. Love Rugby League reported that the contract has not been signed yet, with some details still to be worked out.
The tax-free offer he walked away from
Cleary became a free agent on Sunday 1 November. His current deal runs to the end of 2027, which let rival clubs talk to him from that date.
The Chiefs, who join the NRL in 2028, were ready to put a $1.5 million tax-free offer in front of him, according to Code Sports, as reported by All Out Rugby League. The same report said Penrith were prepared to pay him $1.7 million a season to stay.
Willie Peters’ Chiefs have already signed Joey Manu, Alex Johnston, Zac Lomax, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Connor Watson and St Helens forward Matty Lees, All Out Rugby League reported. Cleary would have been the biggest name of the lot.
Sam Walker is next on the Chiefs’ list
With Cleary off the table, Nine said the Chiefs are likely to turn to Sam Walker. The Queensland halfback is free to sign elsewhere from 2028 after Roosters chairman Nick Politis withdrew the club’s offer last week, as our Sam Walker story covers. Nine added that Walker could even become available for 2027.
Penrith’s other free agents
Cleary was one of several Penrith premiership players who came onto the open market on Sunday, along with Isaah Yeo, Moses Leota and Liam Martin.
Leota is next. “The Panthers have said to us they will make him an offer this week,” his agent Gavin Orr told Love Rugby League. “He has a game to play this week (for New Zealand against Tonga) so he is staying focused on the game at hand. His preference is to stay at Penrith, but we’re looking at other clubs, too.”
Still recovering from the ankle
Cleary has not played since the preliminary final, when a hip-drop tackle from Phoenix Crossland left him with a compound fracture and a dislocated ankle. The injury ruled him out of the World Cup, as our report on the tackle explains, and Australia have gone through the tournament without him.
The Kangaroos play Samoa in the semi-final at Allianz Stadium at 8.05pm AEDT on Sunday. The World Cup table has the results so far.
