It would be the worst-case scenario for the NRL if both superstars decided to leave.
It’s all rumours and innuendo at this stage, but revelations this week that Kalyn Ponga is still considering playing for the All Blacks could be a double play for the NRL if Nathan Cleary decides to leave. Cleary and Ponga are two of the NRL’s highest-profile players, and both earn around $1.3 million per season.
Altogether they earn a combined $13 million (across respective five-year deals) and are among the highest-paid players in the game. But the NRL appears to be facing the very real possibility that both could walk away from the competition after their current contracts expire at the end of 2027.
Rumours have been rife for months that Cleary might look to move to the English Super League to be closer to girlfriend Mary Fowler, who plays her club football with Manchester City. Fowler is only starting her career in the Women’s Super League and appears little chance to move back to Australia anytime soon.
Cleary has won four-straight premierships with Penrith, the Clive Churchill Medal in 2021 and 2023, and Dally M Halfback on the Year in 2020 and 2021. He led Australia to World Cup glory in 2022, and the only major accolade he’s yet to achieve is leading NSW to a State of Origin triumph.
But leading reporter Dean Ritchie declared this week that Cleary doesn’t owe the game anything more and should follow his heart if he wants to be closer to Fowler. Premiership winner Jamie Soward also said Cleary’s legacy won’t be defined by State of Origin because he’s won four titles with Penrith – something not many others have achieved.
Matty Johns predicts Nathan Cleary might join French rugby
Speaking last October, Matty Johns said Cleary might not only be lost to the NRL if he moves to England, but to rugby league as well. Johns predicted French rugby teams would be throwing big bucks at the halfback if he moves to the northern hemisphere.
My only fear with Nathan is him going to England puts him pretty much in the spotlight, or basically he’s right in the backyard of these big French rugby clubs and European rugby clubs,” Johns said on SEN radio. “And there would be a temptation there (to poach him). Some of them (rugby clubs) would probably look to make a bid sooner rather than later…that’s the only thing that would concern me.”
Does Kalyn Ponga still harbour desire to play for All Blacks?
Regardless of what Cleary decides, the NRL could face double disaster if Ponga walks away from the code at the same time. Ponga has previously expressed a desire to play rugby for the All Blacks due to his Maori heritage, and this week former All Black Steven Donald said he’s heard whispers a switch could still be on the cards.
Donald said a “source” he has “let it slip” that “rugby union is still on the table for Ponga”. He added: “That’s the grape vine. It would be something wouldn’t it?”
Ponga appears to be divided over which country he wants to represent at international level. He’s played juniors for both Australia and New Zealand, but neither at senior level.
He was on the cusp of selection for Australia at last year’s Pacific Championships before he controversially withdrew from contention, and was then snubbed by coach Mal Meninga when he was forced to backflip and declare he was free to play. He then chose to represent the Maori All-Stars in last month’s game against the Indigenous All-Stars.
While nothing is set in stone, one thing is for certain. It would be a disastrous scenario for the NRL if Cleary and Ponga both walk away, and there’s every chance it might eventuate.
