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As the Wallabies clamour to discover a match-winning No.10 forward of the 2027 World Cup on house soil, a tanatalising “rumour” linking rugby league megastar Nathan Cleary to the issue place has been floated by way of RWC winner Tim Horan.
Speaking on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven display after Cleary featured in New South Wales’ dominant State of Origin victory over Queensland, Horan urged there was once communicate that Cleary was once prepared to make a transfer.
“You might not have to wait too long,” Horan stated as his fellow panellists mentioned Cleary and different Origin avid gamers who may just end up successful for the Wallabies.
Nathan Cleary of the Blues makes a ruin all over recreation probably the most Men’s State of Origin sequence between Queensland Maroons and New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on May 28, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by way of Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“There’s been some rumours the last two months that he’s quite keen,” stated Horan.
“I’ve heard it totally separate, he’s quite keen to come to rugby.
“I don’t think it’s the right thing for Australian rugby to do, we’ve got a lot of talent coming through.
“But I tell you what, if Nathan Cleary says ‘I’m interested in playing the game’ you’ve got to have a coffee.”
Links between Cleary, 27, and union had been round for a while.
Former chairman Hamish McLennan floated Cleary’s identify as a participant he’d love to poach, and the Penrith champion addressed them in a 2023 interview with The Sporting News’ Ebbs and Flows podcast.
“I think that’s the exciting part of union, it is on that global stage. If you were to do it for Australia, it would be such a big thing because Australia has sort of neglected union for a while now and it hasn’t been a massive thing,” Cleary stated.
“I think that part of it is an exciting prospect, but league is all I have known and loved and it has been a passion for me. I couldn’t see myself doing it, but there is a little part of me that thinks it would be cool to try it out.
“If I was to try it, I would 100 per cent have to be all-in, I wouldn’t just be doing it for the thought of having success or wanting that status. It would take a lot of hard work, I would have to know the game inside-out before I even felt confident pulling on an Australian jersey.
“I wouldn’t just want it because of what I’ve done in league. I still feel like there’s still so much more for me to do in rugby league… it’s just a journey and I feel like I’m honestly just getting started.
“You can have all the achievements along the way, but you know within yourself what you can get out of your talent and what you’ve put in.”
There are obtrusive hindrances.
Cleary’s Panthers contract extends to the top of 2027 – and he would wish really extensive time prior to the World Cup to be informed a brand new position.
When he signed his extension in 2023 it was once reported he was once on $1.3 million for the primary 12 months however then the contract determine would scale back each and every 12 months thereafter to assist the Panthers from a wage cap standpoint.
When McLennan made his remark there was once an excellent quantity of scoffing that the game may just find the money for Cleary. The panorama has modified with RA letting Noah Lolesio move in a foreign country by way of no longer assembly his pay calls for, and paying much less for Ben Donaldson than the playmaker to start with sought after.
There could also be a ready-made spot set to open up for Cleary on the Waratahs with Tane Edmed earmarked in its place for Lolesio on the Brumbies.
