Set to enter the NRL in 2028, PNG will be salivating at the prospect of reuniting Cleary with former Panthers halves partner Jarome Luai, who they have signed on a three-year $4.3 million tax-free deal. Luai is also reportedly set to acquire another $3.5m in third-party deals.
Nathan Cleary (left) won four NRL premierships alongside Jarome Luai between 2021 and 2024. Photo / Photosport
The obvious factor in Cleary’s decision is money. While the Chiefs will be able to offer a tax-free deal, it must be sufficient to offset the lifestyle downgrade that comes with living in a compound in Port Moresby.
The Warriors will not be able to match PNG, but they could be well placed to front a competitive deal. More than $900,000 in salary cap space will be freed up by the departure of Luke Metcalf to the Dragons. Each team’s salary cap is also set to increase to $18.5m (AU$15.5m) in 2028. To put it into perspective, the UK Super League’s salary cap is $4.85m.
Auckland looms as a familiar option for Cleary. He grew up in the City of Sails when his dad, Ivan, coached the Warriors between 2006 and 2011, leading them to the grand final in 2011.
Younger brother Jett is already at the club, and while he is yet to make his first-grade debut, the 21-year-old is a regular for the Warriors New South Wales Cup side.
Cleary is also well accustomed to working under NRL coach Andrew Webster, who was an assistant to Ivan Cleary at Penrith before joining the New Zealand club in 2023.
Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary won four titles together. Photo / Photosport
In May, the Warriors re-signed incumbent halfback Tanah Boyd on a three-year extension through to the end of 2029. However, Boyd is currently in recovery from an ACL injury, with Te Maire Martin wearing the No 7 jersey alongside five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita. Crucially, Martin is only signed until the end of next year and rookie Luke Hanson is departing for a two-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans.
Next up in the Warriors’ production line of halves options is Jett Cleary, with 20-year-olds Harry Inch and Jye Linnane five-eighth candidates. However, all three are years off their peak and will need time to flourish.
Therefore, potential remains for the introduction of a superstar halfback. Winning a title for dad’s old club, whom Cleary supported growing up, is surely an alluring, romantic prospect.
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.