Nathan Cleary has stunned Penrith by admitting he is unsure where his future lies beyond his current contract.
The 28-year-old, who has his father, Ivan, as his coach, made his debut for the Panthers a decade ago and has won four premierships with the club.
He previously signed extensions in 2018 and 2022 – but is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal with his contract expiring at the end of next season.
And, with Papua New Guinea being linked with a $15.6m move for Cleary in 2028, Australia’s Test star has fuelled speculation surrounding his future by refusing to rule anything out.
Speaking about the transfer market, he said: “It’s a process that’s pretty foreign to me, I’ve never done it.
“That’s a discussion to be had in the coming weeks or months or whatever. I don’t know.
“(I’ve said) I wasn’t going to close off any avenues, like I was quite open to everything… I just didn’t want to really lock myself in too early.
“But I’ve always said as well that a week is such a long time in rugby league let alone a few months, so you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The Panthers have made a sensational start to the 2026 season, winning all three games, scoring 92 points and conceding just 10.
And while Cleary is not yet committing his long-term future to Penrith, he has conceded it is difficult for him to envisage being at another club.
“It’s pretty hard to imagine right now, yeah,” he added when discussing a transfer.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much but trying to imagine being somewhere else, it’s tough to think of in my mind.”
Cleary, who is preparing to face Parramatta on Saturday, was also quick to shut down the idea that winning elsewhere could motivate where he ends up.
“I don’t think that (wanting to win trophies away from Penrith) would ever play a part in my decision really,” he said.
“I think that’s just the by-product of trying to be better each and every year, and each and every day.”
It is believed players who sign up to play for the PNG side are set to receive special exemptions and likely won’t have to pay tax.
Away from the obvious monetary sell, the other major factor for Cleary to consider the switch could be his relationship with Mary Fowler.
While the Matildas superstar continues to play in England for giant Manchester City, she has PNG heritage, with her mother born there.
Fowler will also be 25 come 2028 – and by that time she could be ready to take a break or retire from football entirely, given she has voiced her desire to have a “big family”.
“I really want to have a big family,” Fowler told the Keegan and Company podcast last year, speaking about her future plans.
“The only dream I have at the moment is to be a mum and have heaps of kids and be in a space where they can play outside a lot.
“We can do the gardening and feed the animals together and be able to run wild in the place; be in the mud.”
