![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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Updated July 24, 2026 \u2014 12:00pm,first published July 24, 2026 \u2014 5:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Panthers champion Nathan Cleary has provided a huge update on his playing future, all but ruling out a potential move to the New Zealand Warriors because of fears he could block the path of his little brother, Jett.<\/p>\n What Cleary does beyond the 2027 season \u2013 and even if he is prepared to head to the open market on November 1 \u2013 has become one of rugby league\u2019s biggest storylines.<\/p>\n The Warriors, where Cleary\u2019s father Ivan coached and played, has been one rival club regularly linked to the halfback, along with the cashed-up PNG Chiefs and their tax exemptions.<\/p>\n Cleary said he had used the past few weeks to settle back into club life at Penrith after leading NSW to a memorable Origin series win, and was no certainty to become a free agent.<\/p>\n The Panthers remain hopeful of getting a deal done, and even sitting down with him and his management in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n As for a move to the Warriors, which was floated this week in News Corp, Cleary said: \u201cI grew up [in Auckland] a fair [few years], and I will admit I was a Warriors fan growing up.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at the end of the day, even if that was an option [to play for them], I\u2019d be blocking my little brother\u2019s pathway. I\u2019m not too sure about [doing] that.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to put a bit more thought into it. The last few weeks there have been a bit of a comedown from Origin, and I\u2019ve been trying to get back into a routine with the boys, and get back into consistent training.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sort of [contract] stuff will work itself out in the background.\u201d<\/p>\n Jett, 21, was in the Penrith system before heading to the Warriors, where he is yet to make his NRL debut.<\/p>\n Nathan was glad the Panthers could get the 24-18 win over western Sydney rivals Parramatta on Thursday night, but felt bad one of his kicks slammed into Tallyn Da Silva\u2019s head from close range, forcing him off the field for a head injury assessment, which he later passed.<\/p>\n There was a nice touch when Cleary made a point of checking in on da Silva as he rolled around in pain while being helped by a trainer in the middle of CommBank Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not like that happening to myself; I wanted to see if he was all right [because] it cranked his neck a bit too,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember we had a captain\u2019s run, I was practising 40-20s, [former Panther] Api Koroisau was just in front of me, and I did that exact same thing. He was wearing an earring, and the earring popped out.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the day before a game, and he was lucky he didn\u2019t get concussed. It was so similar to [the] one tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Da Silva said he would be fine to play next Sunday against his former club the Wests Tigers in what will double as his 50th NRL game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt like a rocket,\u201d Da Silva said of the Cleary cannon.<\/p>\n \u201cIt hit me in the back of my head, my ears started ringing, and my head was stinging. It really hurt in the moment. It was partially my fault because I turned around and clocked off for a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce I stood up and walked around it went away. It\u2019s bound to happen every now and then. I was just unlucky.\u201d<\/p>\n The Panthers push on to Mudgee next weekend where they play Canberra. Fullback Dylan Edwards missed the Eels clash because of a shoulder injury \u2013 not because of the 10 stitches required for a nasty head gash last week<\/a> \u2013 and is no certainty to return against the Raiders. His replacement, Jaxen Edgar, was excellent in his second NRL game.<\/p>\n Winger Tom Jenkins took his season tally to 26 tries, which broke Rhys Wesser\u2019s long-standing club record of 25 set in 2003 \u2013 the year Penrith won the premiership.<\/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![\"Class](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/97cdb1d629baabfd8e48885cc3e8f2b563a5349cd1cb1dbcd47007ba454ea26a.jpeg\")
Class act: Nathan Cleary checks in on Tallyn Da Silva.NRL<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dbdb28e492ba79c0b1482d85c2bf05ec5c88f2a92f04c481398c13f0025d59a1.gif\")
Nathan Cleary\u2019s kick didn\u2019t miss Tallyn Da Silva.Nine<\/p>\n