![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791801620_192_635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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October 12, 2026 \u2014 4:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n No gift articles left<\/p>\n You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.<\/p>\n Close<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Nathan Cleary\u2019s contract negotiations have been put on the back-burner as the game\u2019s best player looks to make a full recovery from two lots of surgery.<\/p>\n As Cleary publicly praised high-profile partner Mary Fowler for withdrawing from soccer friendlies with the Matildas<\/a> to make the long-haul trip to Sydney be by his side, his management confirmed contract talks with Penrith \u2013 and any rival after November 1 \u2013 were not at the top of the agenda.<\/p>\n Penrith approached Cleary\u2019s management a few weeks ago to ask what kind of money the star halfback had in mind if he was \u201chypothetically\u201d prepared to entertain offers from rival NRL clubs. Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Cleary\u2019s management has since informed the Panthers of the figure.<\/p>\n The same sources confirmed Cleary was in no rush to return to the negotiating table, and \u201cthe immediate focus is his health\u201d.<\/p>\n The delay means he will likely become a free agent for the first time \u2013 and officially be open to offers from the likes of the PNG Chiefs \u2013 but, according to the sources, Cleary\u2019s sole priority is making sure his surgeries do not delay his return for round one of the 2027 NRL season.<\/p>\n Cleary suffered a double compound fracture to his left leg in the Panthers\u2019 preliminary final loss to the Knights. The club later revealed he had taken a broken bone in his right foot into the game.<\/p>\n Penrith have held preliminary talks with Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Moses Leota about extending their deals beyond 2027.<\/p>\n Yeo is in the final stages of formalising a three-year extension, and told this masthead last week he was, \u201cjust trying to tweak a few little things in the background<\/a>, and how the [post-career] might look.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if it will [be finalised by November 1],\u201d Yeo said. \u201cI also think just because you hit November 1, it\u2019s not like all of a sudden these offers and conversations are had, as much as fans might think that\u2019s the case. It\u2019s not how it looks.\u201d<\/p>\n Cleary took to social media to thank Fowler on the weekend, who made herself unavailable for international friendlies against Germany and Haiti, but has since flown back to England, where she plays for Manchester City in the Women\u2019s Super League.<\/p>\n Fowler posted photos of Cleary on Monday, saying: \u201cCame with love and left with even more.\u201d<\/p>\n Yeo said of the social media posts: \u201cI think it was a bit of a surprise from Mary, and I\u2019m sure it lifted his spirits because he is stuck in a wheelchair and bed bound at the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cShe came back for a week. We\u2019re all in relationships with people you love; you go above and beyond for those people. They\u2019re a happy couple; you\u2019ll do anything for your partner.\u201d<\/p>\n Penrith and Kangaroos teammate Martin added: \u201cHe\u2019s so lucky he has that support network, whether it\u2019s Mary or his mum and dad.<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4b6ee7dc2c6be6ba448206a186e864743608edd3.jpeg\")
Nathan Cleary suffered a horror leg injury in the preliminary final loss to Newcastle.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/3ab6e228bf771d19a8e3d62629d406e98282648d9c189511e0142670c46f4158.jpeg\")
Nathan Cleary and Mary Fowler.Instagram<\/p>\n
![\"Wallaby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/bf6b4efff3924622e0eb3f73144d0aad03e478a9e6f9ab3560c03cbab1593fc3.jpeg\")
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