The Penrith Panthers have locked in the prized signing of half Nathan Cleary on a new six-year deal which will see him remain at the foot of the mountains until at least 2024.
It’s a huge coup for the club, with Cleary’s future up in the air over the past few months. With father Ivan coaching at the Wests Tigers, there has been conjecture about whether the father-son duo would team up, but with Ivan committing to the Tigers and Nathan the Panthers, it seems to have been put to bed for now.
While the value of the deal hasn’t been announced, the long-term nature will lock Cleary in at the Panthers for a large chunk of his career.
Cleary said he was looking forward to extending his time at the Panthers.
“I’m excited to re-sign with the Panthers and commit the next six years of my career to the club,” Cleary said.
“There was always going to be speculation but in the end it was an easy decision for me to make.
“This club and this community mean a lot to me. Panthers gave me the opportunity to debut as an 18-year-old and I will always hold that close to my heart.
“I’ve grown up with this team and I couldn’t ask for a better group of players and coaches to work with moving forward.
“I want to become a leader here at the Panthers and I’m determined to help deliver a premiership to Penrith.”
The 20-year-old, who already has 58 NRL games and three State of Origin appearances for the Blues to his name, has had an excellent season and is touted as one of the best young players in the game.
In 2017, he became the youngest player since 1913 to finish the season as the competition’s highest points-scorer, and the youngest ever to score 200 points in a season.
Who are the hardest working big men in the NRL?
Darcy Lussick and Cook Islands player Anthony Gelling found out on SENZ the Panthers star will be crossing back to New Zealand.
This one will hurt. James Fisher-Harris’ unexpected exit from Penrith to the Warriors at season’s end not only has ramifications for those two clubs…
James Fisher-Harris is set to return home, with the marquee player announced as signing with the New Zealand Warriors. The New Zealand franchise has…
A brutally honest Blake Lawrie has conceded he could rightfully have been axed by Shane Flanagan, labelling his own early-season form at St George…
