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Money will be near the bottom of the list of factors Nathan Cleary considers when he makes his next footballing move. Family, love and new success are the keys. The dreams and plans of his partner, Matildas star Mary Fowler, will be a huge consideration \u2013 and the power couple\u2019s desire to become parents will be a factor.<\/p>\n
That is part of their future and where to have a family is a consideration. On a sporting front, Nathan is after an athletic challenge \u2013 what that looks like is difficult to define.<\/p>\n
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UK-based Fowler and Cleary have maintained a long-distance relationship since becoming a couple in 2023.Instagram<\/p>\n
Peter Wallace, who was named during the week<\/a> to take over from Ivan Cleary as Panthers head coach in 2028, is the key asset in Penrith\u2019s quest to re-sign the champion halfback. This isn\u2019t just spin from the Panthers chief executive Matt Cameron.<\/p>\n On the quiet, Liam Martin has told his agent Allan Gainey he would love to play under Wallace. And you\u2019d think that Ivan would only endorse Wallace for the job after at least a private chat with Nathan.<\/p>\n Wallace is a smart coach and a relatable figure to so many in the league community. He was brought up by his mother without knowing his father. He dropped out of school in Year 10 and did an apprenticeship in painting. The former Blues, Panthers and Broncos half was not a schoolboy superstar but made it to the top through hard work and courage. He is not a big noter and doesn\u2019t chase or crave spotlight. He played alongside Nathan and is admired by him. They both have a humble nature.<\/p>\n Nathan\u2019s humility and lack of desire to be in the spotlight may help Penrith do a deal with him before November 1 when he would hit the open market. The stories circulating about him are out of control. And there will be interest in him from every club between Port Moresby to Bondi Beach. That speculation can only be avoided by signing a deal with Penrith for less than he would earn elsewhere.<\/p>\n V\u2019landys denies reports of Meninga feud<\/p>\n NRL boss Peter V\u2019landys has strongly refuted suggestions he is feuding with Perth Bears coach and rugby league legend Mal Meninga.<\/p>\n The NRL is definitely frustrated with Meninga and they are gobsmacked he is still living in Canberra. However, reports elsewhere that V\u2019landys and Meninga are fighting is a lazy way to describe what is going on. \u201cTo say Mal and I are feuding is just laughable,\u201d V\u2019landys said.<\/p>\n The NRL is also aware of the frosty relationship between coaches Meninga and assistant Ben Gardiner. There are still suggestions that Gardiner could end up in the English Super League in the coming months, despite him purchasing a house in Perth.<\/p>\n Meninga and Gardiner are active in meetings, but it is my understanding there is little extra communication, if any, between them. Gardiner has been announced as the man to take over from Meninga in 2029.<\/p>\n Meninga has been rattled by the support Gardiner has from key figures at the NRL. He was also stunned to see a News Corp report saying he is feuding with V\u2019landys.<\/p>\n It\u2019s come to the attention of this column that Gardiner was a guest of the NRL in the chairman\u2019s box on Friday night at Magic Round in Brisbane. He was there in his capacity as head coach of Samoa. Meninga was not there. Gardiner was there with his partner. He has the strong support of Australian Rugby League Commission\u2019s Wayne Pearce who selected him to be the assistant coach of the Bears.<\/p>\n Gardiner was not on stage at a Bears event which featured Meninga, chief executive Anthony De Ceglie, North Sydney Bears stalwart Billy Moore and club board member James Bracey at Magic Round. It\u2019s been explained to me that Meninga was not at Friday night\u2019s matches as he had to attend a wake.<\/p>\n No clean slate for Slater, Triple M<\/p>\n Billy Slater is still unhappy with Triple M and the radio station may need to initiate peace talks with the Queensland coach.<\/p>\n Triple M breakfast host Aaron Woods called out Slater last year, saying he was a grub on the field. Woods doubled down on the breakfast show during the week when he revealed Slater was off the Sydney station and the Brisbane station as well. For transparency, I\u2019m also not on Slater\u2019s speed dial list.<\/p>\n Blues coach Laurie Daley will enter rugby league\u2019s most scrutinised arena after a huge health scare.<\/p>\n A regulation health check a couple of months ago led to a drastic change to his lifestyle \u2013 and the result is he is more clear of mind and focused on all that Origin brings, good and bad.<\/p>\n Always a fitness fanatic, Daley was shocked to learn he was in danger of developing concerning conditions. His weight was close to 100kg. The 56-year-old immediately decided to give up drinking alcohol \u2013 it helps that his local watering hole, the Northbridge Hotel, shut down in January \u2013 and is watching his diet.<\/p>\n While not a huge drinker \u2013 he was a once a week guy \u2013 Daley has shed eight kilograms and is below his playing weight.<\/p>\n Never one to give much away, Daley quipped: \u201cMy wife has asked me not to lose any more weight because she says it makes my nose look bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n The health kick is a smart move from Daley, who is well aware of the stress he and his Queensland rival Slater are under during each Origin campaign.<\/p>\n Slater reacted with extreme emotion last year when Woods criticised him on radio and as a result had to make a match-eve apology to Paul Green\u2019s family after dragging the late former Queensland coach into his conversation about the responsibilities associated with being a media figure.<\/p>\n Slater\u2019s coaching career was on the edge at that point, but an outstanding comeback has him entering this year\u2019s series with a clear head.<\/p>\n Daley was devastated at last year\u2019s 2-1 loss. \u201cIt took me a couple of weeks to get over it,\u201d he said. \u201cWe know what we did wrong and we have learned from it.\u201d<\/p>\n Bellamy to hold talks with Tripp over future<\/p>\n Storm coach Craig Bellamy is due to meet club chairman Matt Tripp in two weeks to work out a plan for the champion mentor and the club.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Storm have upped their anger at Channel 7 over its coverage of Bellamy, who has been diagnosed with a form of neurodegenerative disorder.<\/p>\n The Storm have complained to the NRL about the network\u2019s lack of empathy towards Bellamy in a media conference and the way he was badgered over what is a private health matter.<\/p>\n They also complained about a Seven camera placed at the team hotel to get shots of Bellamy the day after the club revealed his struggles.<\/p>\n Stress is not good for his condition and that will be raised when Bellamy and Tripp meet \u2013 and the message to the champion coach is the Storm will back what is best for him and his family.<\/p>\n Bellamy is in far better spirits than when he went through his medical tests. You wouldn\u2019t know he is battling a serious condition.<\/p>\n Spots galore still up for grabs in Blues\u2019 back line<\/p>\n Take this how you want to: a well-placed Blues source told me there were only two NSW backs who could be considered certainties going into Magic Round: Nathan Cleary and Brian To\u2019o.<\/p>\n I would have thought that Latrell Mitchell was a walk-up starter, but perhaps the worry is the back injury that sidelined him last week. Laurie Daley will want a fit squad.<\/p>\n Mitchell left the field early in Friday night\u2019s loss to the Dolphins, although Souths insist he\u2019ll be fit for Origin I<\/a>.<\/p>\n Related Article I also thought Origin specialist Mitch Moses would be a certainty, but Canberra five-eighth Ethan Strange has caught the eye of selectors.<\/p>\n The debate around the other centre spot is reasonable as is the fullback and remaining wing position. It\u2019s going to be a fascinating team.<\/p>\n Young\u2019s cleanout comes back to bite Flanno<\/p>\n Fox Sports has told Shane Flanagan he won\u2019t get a start with the network \u2013 and his successor at St George Illawarra may have played a role in its decision.<\/p>\n When Dragons interim coach Dean Young sacked assistant coach Michael Ennis, it increased his availability to appear on Fox.<\/p>\n Fox has also signed the extremely talented Luke Keary. It means Flanagan will have to wait for a year to return. He doesn\u2019t want to sit around, so expect him to try to find an assistant coaching job.<\/p>\n The Suaalii disappearing act<\/p>\n A News Corp report that Waratahs and Wallabies back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was in talks with the PNG Chiefs has disappeared from the internet. It was slammed by both the Chiefs and Suaalii\u2019s agent Isaac Moses. Respected News Corp journalists were angry the story appeared.<\/p>\n Cringeworthy commentary<\/p>\n Some of the wise-after-the-event commentary around Ivan Cleary is difficult to let pass. Those claiming that Cleary\u2019s decision to step away from head coaching at the end of 2027 wasn\u2019t a \u201cshock\u201d should be kind enough to distribute next week\u2019s winning Lotto numbers. I\u2019m keen to get them. Please.<\/p>\n The rumour mill being made public by some pundits had Ivan and Nathan going to the Roosters.<\/p>\n At no point did they stick their necks out and say Ivan was about to call it quits. Post story commentary has never been as cringeworthy. The only person who is qualified to comment in that regard is the man who ghosted his book, Andrew Webster.<\/p>\n Even when Nine News revealed he was done at the end of 2027 it was still a nervous wait to hear it come out of Ivan\u2019s mouth \u2013 he is an unpredictable figure. We broke the story before the players were told at 1.20pm. But it\u2019s been a well-kept secret between Panthers chairman Peter Graham and Ivan since the off-season.<\/p>\n Ivan would have liked to have made the announcement last year, but their poor run of form made it impossible. The board sat on the information for close to three weeks. No one \u2013 not even the Monday quarterbacks \u2013 saw the Peter Wallace appointment coming.<\/p>\n Metcalf\u2019s demand a Dogs dealbreaker<\/p>\n Dragons recruit Luke Metcalf would have been a good fit in so many ways at the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n The former Warrior played with Bronson Xerri and Jaeman Salmon at Cronulla, while Bulldogs general manager of football, Phil Gould\u2019s son Jack, teamed up with Metcalf in the Sharks\u2019 junior representative sides.<\/p>\n Related Article But the obvious drawback was Metcalf\u2019s insistence on being the halfback.<\/p>\n The Dogs had a recent issue with Xerri around position insistence, which they sorted. The Bulldogs are all about team first. The Dogs already have Lachlan Galvin and a potential star No.7 in Mitch Woods, but given his lack of football due to injury, Woods may be only really ready to make his mark in 2028.<\/p>\n However, Metcalf is a great signing for the bottom-of-the-table Dragons if he remains injury-free. It\u2019s interesting to see how rookie Kade Reed responds, but at least the Dragons are making moves that give their fans hope.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Incoming](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8763790401f84f6ca799aa39570429dc45145101.jpeg\")
Incoming Penrith coach Peter Wallace with Ivan Cleary at Wednesday\u2019s announcement.Louise Kennerley<\/p>\n![\"Perth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/25ebc8f63e543d66428a2d4bed2e6f1c9ffd41d0.jpeg\")
Perth Bears assistant coach Ben Gardiner and his partner in Brisbane for magic round 2026. The pair were guests of the NRL in a corporate box.<\/p>\n![\"Bears](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/86a63475dceaf7f6e48be038c8f9aad22ebd904a.jpeg\")
Bears coach Mal Meninga is already under pressure.Trevor Collens<\/p>\n![\"Maroons](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/759050cf7b816c0d02ca9f6005cfc74c886d953d.jpeg\")
Maroons coach Billy Slater is still not seeing eye to eye with Triple M radio station. Getty ImagesDaley ditches the drink after health scare<\/p>\n![\"NSW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/c60aa4f612a26ef26af52907774b4ad29d5c7605.jpeg\")
NSW coach Laurie Daley (left) has lost weight and is looking after his health as he aims to win the upcoming Origin series.NRL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Storm](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/caf9f4d4ddb44ebe4ecb30338fa52dcab4c9f30d.jpeg\")
Storm head coach Craig Bellamy is hoping to sort out his future over the coming weeks. AAP<\/p>\n![\"Rabbitohs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/87f8242a67adc1c0c8dd34bc8a5bdefa2e52f272.jpeg\")
Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Big](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778964683_821_6761ee3ae4669fe6401d72938cab406e42b962f503c2321e05d2ff8771f9003b.jpeg\")
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