NRL journalist Phil Rothfield has nipped in the bud wild rumours suggesting Nathan Cleary could be eyeing a move to Super League.
Cleary is arguably the most famous face in the NRL at present after leading Penrith Panthers to three successive titles, and he has a chance of winning a fourth this year. With the help of the half-back, the Panthers saw off Sydney Roosters in the first week of the NRL finals earlier this month and they’ll reach another Grand Final if they beat Cronulla Sharks next weekend.
As such, it’s fair to say Cleary is at the peak of his powers and any suggestion of a move to Super League right now should be taken with a rather large pinch of salt. However, according to Rothfield, there has been speculation that the Australia international was considering a move to the Northern Hemisphere to be closer to his partner Mary Fowler, who plies her trade as a footballer with Manchester City.
Daily Telegraph man Rothfield insists he has taken the ‘crazy’ rumour to both the Panthers and Cleary’s agent George Mimis, who have both rubbished it. Cleary is said to have been in a relationship with Fowler for a year, having got together while the 21-year-old was with the FA Women’s Super League outfit and as she continues to take strides forward in her career, a move back to Australia might not be on the cards for some time.
However, while Cleary is doing what he is doing in the NRL, talk of a move to the Super League always appeared fanciful.
The 26-year-old has spent the entirety of his career to date with the Panthers, making 170 appearances in total and racking up 1,529 points. Perhaps a move to England might be on the cards later in his career, but his likely wage demands alone would make a move in the near future a near impossibility with the half-back currently said to be earning $1.3m (£664k) a season.
According to GQ, that makes him the second highest paid player in the NRL at present, behind Newcastle Knights’ Kalyn Ponga.
