Nathan Cleary in bombshell defection claim as Joseph Suaalii move paves way for NRL player exodus

Former Rugby Australia (RA) chairman Hamish McLennan has claimed superstar halfback Nathan Cleary has been sussing out a switch to rugby union. As RA celebrates Roosters defector Joseph Suaalii’s incredible Wallabies debut last weekend, McLennan revealed several other NRL stars have been considering joining the 15-man code.

McLennan was the man who poached Suaalii for the Wallabies in a massive $5 million coup and revealed in May he was made aware of a handful of other NRL players, including Cleary, considering joining rugby union. McLennan said up to six NRL stars were open to negotiating with RA for a cross-code defection but stated he was unsure whether the players were aware of the third-party approach. However, he insisted there was genuine interest.

McLennan says talks between him and the NRL stars never reached the point of formal discussions due to him leaving RA but he believes poaching Cleary and other NRL stars is a real possibility. "Earlier this year, I got told Cleary and a few other top NRL players were keen to come to rugby via a third party,” McLennan told The Daily Telegraph. "It wasn't directed at me, but I believe it was all real. Perhaps they (Cleary and the other NRL players) were wanting to test the waters with a few people, but by then I had left Rugby Australia.

"RA has to go after Cleary, absolutely. I think the next two players Rugby Australia should look to target are Nathan Cleary and Payne Haas. It would be an amazing experience for Nathan. Signing Cleary would be a game changer for the code and add millions in the TV rights deal coming up.

"Nathan has done it all in rugby league. He has won four premierships with Penrith and played State of Origin and Test football. He was previously asked by NRL media about Suualii playing rugby and he mentioned how he loved rugby because he grew up in New Zealand when his dad was coaching the Warriors. Rugby Australia should get him for the next World Cup in Australia. Nathan Cleary would be phenomenal."

The Panthers halfback has achieved almost everything possible in rugby league, having won four premierships, two Clive Churchill Medals, a State of Origin series and the World Cup for Australia in 2022. Cleary spent his childhood years in a rugby-mad New Zealand household and has previously mentioned he'd consider a code switch in the future.

Cleary, who celebrates his 27th birthday this week, is contracted to Penrith until the end of 2027. But at the end of that deal, he could be tempted to try his hand at union or alternatively head to the UK to play in the Super League, a move that would mean he could be closer to his partner Mary Fowler.

RELATED:

• Dom Young could make rugby switch as star's agent makes telling call

• Mam and Broncos respond after police take action against Brisbane star

• Madge reveals truth about claims Broncos stars could be forced to move

Joseph Suaalii's move could see new Super Rugby side added?

The former Roosters and NSW Origin star inspired the Wallabies to a 42-37 upset victory over England last weekend. And in the days that have followed, there has been a sense that other big-name NRL players could follow suit. Roosters star Dominic Young has been linked to changing codes with winger's manager Michael Cincotta telling The Telegraph that the 23-year-old is open to the move.

But McLennan believes the key to capitalising on Suaalii's popularity and helping convince more NSW talent to defect to union is to add a Super Rugby franchise in western Sydney and make the cross-code star the side’s poster boy. “There’s no shortage of talent out in Western Sydney and perhaps a lateral thought is to put a privatised franchise out in western Sydney with private money brought in – and you could even make Joseph the face of the club,” McLennan told The Roar.