Inside Nathan Cleary's call to reject Chiefs' record offer

Nathan Cleary rejected a PNG Chiefs offer that would have made him the highest-paid player in rugby league history. The Chiefs' three-year deal was estimated at $6 million tax-free, or $2 million a season, and third-party endorsements could have added up to $800,000 a year, for a potential total of $8.4 million. Instead, Cleary told Penrith he wants a two-year deal with an option for two more years, estimated at $1.7 million a season. The deal could take several weeks to finalise. He made the call just four days after becoming a free agent, and the Chiefs reportedly respected him for not dragging out the process. Next season is Ivan Cleary's last as coach, and Cleary is keen to help launch Peter Wallace's coaching career in 2028, with his younger brother Jett also joining the club from the Warriors. There was no formal offer from Super League or rugby union.

By David Riccio, CODE Sports — read the full story