4-time NRL Premiership winner Nathan Cleary is seemingly “fairly eager” on a shock transfer throughout codes to rugby union, with legendary Wallaby Tim Horan dropping a bombshell piece of switch gossip this week.
Cleary began at halfback for New South Wales on Wednesday, as they dominated the Queensland Maroons 18-6 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, though the playmaker did miss all three conversion makes an attempt on the dwelling of the Queensland Reds.
Whereas there may be an NRL Corridor of Fame, there’s an much more unique membership in rugby league, with solely 14 gamers reaching Immortal standing. There’s a sturdy perception that Cleary has the potential to in the future be recognised with that honour.
After winning multiple NRL titles, a few State of Origin Series, and a Rugby League World Cup with the Australian Kangaroos, Cleary is a generational talent, but the Penrith Panthers halfback could be lost to rugby union sometime in the future.
“You might not have to wait too long,” Horan said on Stan Sport.
“There’s been rumours the last two months that he’s quite keen.
“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 interesting in playing the game’ you’ve got to have a coffee.”
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has captured headline after headline in rugby union after making the move from the NRL in October. Suaalii was named Player of the Match on debut for the Wallabies against England, before playing any minutes for the NSW Waratahs.
After Suaalii put pen to paper with Rugby Australia some time ago, there were plenty of rumours about the potential of other NRL players who could follow, with Cleary’s name mentioned alongside the likes of Cam Murray.
Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Stephen Donald was asked earlier this year to name a talent who could successfully complete the move, and it came as no surprise really to hear the New Zealander go with Cleary.
“I used to think the obvious option for me was Queensland Maroon and Gold Coast Titan David Fifita. Just get him running 12 lines hard. He’s a monster,” Donald said on The Aftermatch earlier this year.
“But when you look at all the stuff that Joseph’s done, you go straight to the top. You would be robbing my NRL team of its superstar, but you go Cleary.
“The way that Cleary plays, he could transition to rugby because he plays a lot squarer than a lot of league halfbacks, he keeps his feet when he’s passing.
“Mat Rogers came across as a rugby league winger and yep, started in the outsides and worked his way in. I’d say within a year or two, he was absolutely killing it with the Waratahs at 10. I had my debut, I came off the bench, and we played the Waratahs in Sydney, and he was absolutely shredding.
“It might take a year or two but 100 per cent, he’s got all the skillsets. And the way he plays, you could easily close your eyes and go, ‘Yep, I could see that working at 10.’ A lot of the league kicking is done back off the line, he does it in the line, he also has a long kicking game which you’re going to need at 10 to clear your lines and what have you.”
