Nathan Cleary is the latest million-dollar man in the NRL – but it still looks like the Penrith Panthers have got a bargain.
When the premiership-winning halfback’s contract extension was announced earlier this week, there were virtually no criticisms of the deal.
While most contract extensions tend to result in some pushback about the amount paid to the player in question – particularly when it’s more than $1 million per year – in Cleary’s case, most agreed it was a great bit of business by the Panthers.
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“He could have got so much more elsewhere,” Andrew Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.
“It’s selfless.
“Pretty much all through the club, I think all the players will take less to stay together and have that special bond and win premierships and keep that club strong.”
Brad Fittler said that given Cleary’s status, not just on the field but as a marketing icon off it, he is worth far more than he is being paid.
“He should be earning $2 million a year, without a doubt,” he said.
“That’s what we’ve got to get our best players to.”
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Cleary is a perfect combination of being a local junior, a spine player, a top talent and the right age to make the maximum amount of money – and with his future resolved can now concentrate on his football, where both Johns and Fittler believe he will continue to improve.
“I think he’ll go down as one of the greats,” Fittler said.
Locking up Cleary was always priority number one for Penrith, who have already lost several key contributors from their 2021 premiership win.
Matt Burton will be joined by Viliame Kikau at the Bulldogs next year, while Kurt Capewell moved to the Broncos, and Api Koroisau signed with the Wests Tigers from 2023 onwards.
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