Nathan Cleary has declared a move to rugby union is not on the cards, as he insisted he has more to achieve in rugby league.
It comes as rumours continue to swirl that a move to England to be closer to girlfriend Mary Fowler could be a serious possibility at the end of next season.
Cleary is off contract at the end of 2027, which also marks the end of his father Ivan’s tenure as head coach, with the 55-year-old announcing his decision to take on a new challenge earlier this year.
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The superstar halfback also finally won an Origin decider this month, and also won man-of-the-series.
It marked another milestone in a stellar season to date for Cleary, with the 28-year-old also the raging favourite to win his first-ever Dally M Medal.
If he wins the highest individual honour in the sport, he will have officially completed everything a player can in the NRL, which has sparked fears that his future could lie away from the foot of the mountain.
But in music to Penrith fans’ ears, Cleary said he still has unfinished business in the NRL.
“If anything, that drive is probably growing even more,” Cleary told Nine.
“It’s just a feeling I have. I feel like I can still get so much better.
“When you’re able to enjoy some success, it’s an addictive feeling, and you just want more of it.
“I’ve always said rugby league is my passion. I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember, so it’s always going to be life for me.”
While Cleary hinted that he isn’t planning on going anywhere, he stopped short of committing his future to the Panthers.
“That’s something I’ll think about over the next couple of weeks,” Cleary added.
With the door shut on rugby, at least for now, the only other likely move would be to the Super League to be closer to his partner Fowler.
The Matildas superstar plays her football for Manchester City in England and has recently said she has no plans to move back to Australia anytime soon.
And NRL Immoral Andrew Johns said ahead of this year’s Origin series that he feels Cleary may make the move abroad should he “own” an Origin series, something he did this year.
“He’s won competitions, he’s won everything at club land – but I don’t think Nathan will leave until he owns an Origin series,” Johns said on Immortal Behaviour in April.
“If you look at any of the great halves or X-factor players over the last 30 years at Origin … that’s where you build your real legacy, and Nathan has admitted that.”
Now that is ticked off Cleary’s attention turns back to clubland as he looks to take the Panthers to a fifth NRL premiership in six years.
He is then set to form an integral part of Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos side as they look to win yet another World Cup title at the end of the year.
Originally published as Nathan Cleary makes huge call on NRL future as he addresses question around Mary Fowler