The move that could get Cleary in a 'different stratosphere'

Matty Johns and Denan Kemp have speculated on where Nathan Cleary could play beyond 2027, believing his future lies in Europe.

Across his career with Penrith, NSW and Australia, there is very little that he hasn’t achieved.

Four premierships, four State of Origin series, two Clive Churchill Medals, a Wally Lewis Medal and a Rugby League World Cup put his CV among the greats of the sport.

But having completed so much in the game at the ripe age of 28 and coming out of contract next year, there has been plenty of speculation about where the halfback will land.

Throughout the last 12 months, the Penrith superstar has been connected to a wide range of moves from joining the Wallabies’ 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign to reuniting with former teammate Jarome Luai at the PNG Chiefs for their inaugural season in 2028.

But Kemp believes a move to switch codes and play overseas could be on the cards.

“He's going to Europe, I think so,” Kemp said on SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.

“I think he seems like a guy that wants to really experience life and I think he understands that if he does stay with Penrith, like you're pretty much locking away the idea of going experience Rugby Union over there in a big club.”

Whilst Johns didn’t think the star halfback would switch codes, he did believe Cleary could play a large part in the NRL’s potential ploy to purchase a stake in the Super League.   

“I tell you what would be interesting, right?” Johns prefaced.

“I was talking to an influential guy the other day, a few days ago.

“He told me that Peter V'landys has said my next priority is to buy the UK Super League.

“He said, not just a desire, it is a priority.

“Now it'd be very interesting if they buy the UK Super League and subsidise for him to go over there with the club to make an impact a couple of seasons.”

This, in the eyes of Kemp, could see his stardom transcend beyond Australia.   

“Whether it's the Super League, or whether it's Rugby Union, I just think…look at a guy like Sonny Bill Williams, for example,” Kemp added.

“Obviously he's a huge name in Australia and New Zealand, but he went to a whole different stratosphere by going to overseas and playing Union.

“I just think Nathan Cleary, we sometimes get caught in the bubble of Australia. He might think, I've got the talent to actually live an even crazier and bigger life.

“I've done everything in the NRL. Why not just go and experience it?”

The ARLC and RL Commerical are still in negotiations over a potential deal that would see the NRL own a stake in the Super League.