There is no bigger name in rugby league at the moment than Nathan Cleary, with the Penrith Panthers halfback already revered as a modern-day NRL great. With four premiership rings from the last four Grand Finals, it’s hard to argue with the notion that Cleary is a class above.
While it might seem ambitious, former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan believes the sport’s governing body should have “a crack” at signing the Penrith playmaker. That suggestion comes after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii made a high-profile switch across codes.
Suaalii signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Rugby Australia in March of last year, and while the Sydney Roosters flyer still had some time in the NRL left, those seasons are now in the books. The 21-year-old is firmly focused on what lies ahead in rugby union.
Before the Wallabies and an Australia XV side jet off to Europe for their respective end-of-year tours, Suaalii joined some of the nation’s best rugby talent in a training camp last week. It’s no surprise that Suaalii was already the talk of the town.
Suaalii spoke with reporters after the first day of training in Canberra. Whether or not Suaalii is selected for the Wallabies of the Aussie XV remains to be seen, but the recruit’s name has been in the headlines, and that’s been a massive positive for Australian rugby.
“Joseph has already driven massive interest in rugby union and paid for himself over and over again,” McLennan told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“He’s a global rugby superstar before he has even pulled on a Wallaby jumper, and he’ll be a wonderful role model for aspiring rugby players.
“The decades-long under-performance of the Wallabies means they need investment in the top tier to drive value in sponsorship, media rights and crowds.
“We haven’t a World Cup since 1999, and a Bledisloe Cup in 23 years, so you don’t need more evidence the system needs an overhaul and to be centralised.”
While Suaalii is a great addition to Australian rugby’s playing pool, McLennan has argued the sport needs “another five Josephs” before the upcoming Rugby World Cup on home soil. Among those, Nathan Cleary was mentioned by name.
Cleary moving to rugby union has been discussed publicly before, with McLennan revealing in April that the Panthers’ star halfback was on Rugby Australia’s hit list. Payne Haas, Cameron Murray and Angus Crichton were among the other leaguies mentioned.
Interestingly, Cleary refused to rule out a switch “down the track” in an interview with Channel 9. Cleary had grown up in rugby-mad New Zealand and has “a great admiration and respect” for the sport and its athletes.
“I’d be having a crack at the likes of Nathan Cleary and a few others,” McLennan said.
“The game needs another five Josephs as the World Cup for ’27 is just around the corner and the clock is ticking… Thank God for Joseph, because that’s all everyone is talking about.
“Australia is No. 10 in the world (rankings) and needs an injection of talent or there will be nothing left to sell.”
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