Nathan Cleary’s Future: A Personal Decision
Nathan Cleary, the Penrith Panthers’ star No.7, has made it clear that his father Ivan’s decision to step down as coach will not influence his own future in the NRL. The champion player is among several high-profile Panthers who are set to become free agents at the end of 2027. He has indicated that he will speak with his long-term girlfriend, Mary Fowler, before making any final decisions about his career.
The possibility of Cleary and other key players leaving Penrith has raised concerns, especially after Ivan Cleary announced his intention to move on after the next season. Fellow co-captain Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin, and Mitch Kenny are also among the stars who could test the open market this year. Despite many of them expressing a desire to stay at Penrith, the club may face challenges in retaining all its top talent due to salary cap constraints.
Cleary emphasized that he will wait until the busy State of Origin period is over before discussing his future with his management and family. “It’s not a decision I’m going to take lightly… but I can guarantee nothing will happen over the next little period given how busy and full on it is,” he told News Corp.
However, Cleary acknowledged that his relationship with Mary Fowler would play a role in his decision-making process. “Obviously, I’ll have conversations with her given she’s my partner,” Cleary added. “But it’s not something we’ve done yet.” Fowler, who plays for Manchester City in England, has been linked with Cleary potentially moving overseas to be closer to her.
Matty Johns, a former rugby league player, believes that if Cleary can dominate the 2023 Origin series, a move to the English Super League could be a possibility. “I can only see him being a one-club man (in the NRL),” Johns said on the ‘Immortal Behaviour’ podcast. “I think there would be more interest to go to England. Whether there’s an option in rugby union in Europe, or playing in the Super League over there. I know my mate Simon Moran, who owns Warrington, would move heaven and earth and hell to get Nathan there.”
Supporting Peter Wallace as the Next Coach
Despite his father’s departure, Cleary has expressed support for Peter Wallace being appointed as the new Panthers coach. He understands Ivan’s desire to explore other opportunities and believes that Wallace’s appointment could help keep the team together. “I think Peter Wallace, everyone is so happy for him to be the one stepping into the role,” Cleary said. “If that position was now vacant and no one knew who was taking over, it would have made it harder. The fact he’s the one coming in probably makes it an easier decision for everyone.”
