Latest news with #NathanCleary
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Real concern': Nathan Cleary floated for $3 million exit from Penrith Panthers
NRL great Corey Parker has highlighted the looming threat of breakaway rugby competition R360, suggesting Nathan Cleary could earn a whopping $3 million per season if he makes the switch. The rebel competition is fronted by former England international Mike Tindall and funded by private investments from Saudi Arabia, the US and UK. Touted as the IPL cricket or LIV Golf equivalent of rugby union, the new league is expected to commence in late 2026 and be played all around the globe. Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is reportedly on the cusp of signing a $1 million deal to join, while Kalyn Ponga and Ryan Papenhuyzen have also been touted as top targets. The league's backers are reportedly willing to offer players $3 million for just a few months of work, in what would be an F1-style calendar of 16 events all around the world. And according to Parker, it should be ringing alarm balls at NRL headquarters. Cleary has already admitted he's open to playing rugby union, and R360 would allow him to move closer to UK-based girlfriend Mary Fowler and spend more time with her. 'This rebel competition is threatening to steal a lot of stars out of the NRL," said Broncos and Queensland great Parker on SEN radio. 'I have always been adamant about – we saw SBW leave to go to rugby - there's always been players leave to rugby. 'We jump up and down about it and say we need to keep them. The game is like a big wheel – it will keep turning with or without you. But this R360, which is still yet to get off the ground, it is set to diminish and take away some of our superstars of the game. My question is, which NRL players would you target to go cross-code for this competition? 'RTS (Tuivasa-Sheck), he has been in union for a couple of years, now back playing for the Warriors. He has presented a fair bit of interest that he wants to go over and could command $1 million. Then you've got has made mention it's on his horizon. We were talking before that it will be fine, but if they go for six or 10 players then it might not be." Nathan Cleary and top stars could earn $3 million Parker suggested Cleary and co might not be able to refuse the staggering riches that would be on offer to jump ship. 'We're trying to get two more teams up and running (Perth and PNG). That means you need another 60 players minimum," he added. 'If you're pulling away some of our superstars, let's say a Cleary, we have spoken about him playing union, what if this 360 throws a $3 million deal at Cleary? He has the currency for union. Why wouldn't he go and play union for $3 million a year? There's a real concern if this gets off the ground.' Cleary is contracted to the Panthers until the end of 2027. However there's a belief around the game that Penrith bosses wouldn't stand in his way should he request an early release - especially if it's to be closer to Fowler. RELATED: Major question raises about Dolphins amid $1m development for star Andrew Johns' staggering response amid Kalyn Ponga exit reports Mal Meninga fears for what R360 would do to Perth Bears Meanwhile, Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga has called out the unwanted effects it will have on the NRL's newest franchise. The NRL legend said he fears for what R360 might do to the Bears' recruitment hopes. 'It is something that we need to address…and if it is real, and if they have got some traction and players are starting to move across into that area well, then obviously, that has an adverse effect on us and our recruitment as well," Meninga said on SEN. 'It's another challenge. We get no concessions, we're part of that normal NRL operationally around our salary cap… so we're just conditioned by all that, and then we've got other outside influences. 'It's a real thing that we have to look at from day to day… we're in a competitive market and things like the R360, I believe it's a bit like the Big Bash (cricket). 'It's coming, bang, away you go and then come back out again, a bit like LIV Golf and things like that, where you just play these major events over a short period of time. It'd be interesting if it did come up. What sort of arrangement can the major national bodies come up with?'
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Ponga's big call as rebel league looms
Warriors chief executive Cameron George concedes the threat of rugby's breakaway competition R360 poaching players on lucrative deals is real, but he laughed off suggestions that it could tear apart rugby league. The comments come on the back of reports Warriors superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been offered $1m a season to sign up, sparking speculation they could go after Nathan Cleary on a deal that would blow that figure out of the water. Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga has also been listed as a target amid reports he was looking at a rugby switch but he ruled out any move until 2028 with a firm commitment to the Knights on Thursday until the end of his current deal. 'Committed to the end of 2027,' Ponga posted on Instagram. 'Excited about the vision of the club. Appreciate those that support me!' Kalyn Ponga commits to Newcastle on Instagram. Credit: Supplied While Ponga is staying, no NRL club could compete financially if R360 offered the four-time premiership-winning halfback a deal worth $3m a year – a sum Broncos legend Corey Parker mentioned on radio on Thursday morning. It's still unclear exactly what the competition would look like, but early reports suggest it would feature 12 teams and be played all over the world with the backing of Saudi Arabia. 'This rebel competition is threatening to steal a lot of stars out of the NRL,' Parker said on SENQ Breakfast, with Ponga and Ryan Papenhuyzen also mentioned as possible targets. 'I have always been adamant about – we saw SBW (Sonny Bill Williams) leave to go to rugby, there's always been players leave to rugby. Nathan Cleary would be an obvious target for the new R360 league. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied 'We jump up and down about it and say we need to keep them. The game is like a big wheel – it will keep turning with or without you. 'But this R360, which is still yet to get off the ground, it is set to diminish and take away some of our superstars of the game. My question is, which NRL players would you target to go cross code for this competition in Saudi Arabia? 'RTS overnight, he has been in union for a couple of years. Now back playing for the Warriors. He has presented a fair bit of interest that he wants to go over and could command $1m. 'If you're pulling away some of our superstars, let's say a Cleary, we have spoken about him playing union, what if this 360 throws a $3 million deal at Cleary? 'He has the currency for union. Why wouldn't he go and play union for $3m a year? 'There's a real concern if this gets off the ground.' George hasn't sat down with Tuivasa-Sheck to discuss his future yet, with the Warriors boss warning other clubs that they should be prepared for their star players to be offered life-changing sums of money. 'There are a lot of sports and a lot of innovations around sport that come around from time to time,' he said on SEN. 'Being over here in New Zealand where rugby is very big, I've been hearing a lot over the last month in particular about Rugby 360 getting off the ground and the discussions they're having with any number of rugby players. 'I've heard, quite frankly, that a number of our major names in rugby league would be a target to them as well. I get that because they're a PR machine and they'd be great for their sport. 'I think it's real, but is it going to tear apart rugby league? Absolutely not. We've got the greatest game in the world. 'However, I'm sure they'll come knocking and cause some clubs some headaches with the financial windfalls on offer.'
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Crazy money from rebel league puts clubs on notice
Warriors chief executive Cameron George concedes the threat of rugby's breakaway competition R360 poaching players on lucrative deals is real, but he laughed off suggestions that it could tear apart rugby league. The comments come on the back of reports Warriors superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been offered $1m a season to sign up, sparking speculation they could go after Nathan Cleary on a deal that would blow that figure out of the water. No NRL club could compete financially if R360 offered the four-time premiership-winning halfback a deal worth $3m a year – a sum Broncos legend Corey Parker mentioned on radio on Thursday morning. It's still unclear exactly what the competition would look like, but early reports suggest it would feature 12 teams and be played all over the world with the backing of Saudi Arabia. Nathan Cleary would be an obvious target for the new R360 league. NRL Photos Credit: Supplied 'This rebel competition is threatening to steal a lot of stars out of the NRL,' Parker said on SENQ Breakfast, with Kalyn Ponga and Ryan Papenhuyzen also mentioned as possible targets. 'I have always been adamant about – we saw SBW (Sonny Bill Williams) leave to go to rugby, there's always been players leave to rugby. 'We jump up and down about it and say we need to keep them. The game is like a big wheel – it will keep turning with or without you. 'But this R360, which is still yet to get off the ground, it is set to diminish and take away some of our superstars of the game. My question is, which NRL players would you target to go cross code for this competition in Saudi Arabia? 'RTS overnight, he has been in union for a couple of years. Now back playing for the Warriors. He has presented a fair bit of interest that he wants to go over and could command $1m. 'If you're pulling away some of our superstars, let's say a Cleary, we have spoken about him playing union, what if this 360 throws a $3 million deal at Cleary? 'He has the currency for union. Why wouldn't he go and play union for $3m a year? 'There's a real concern if this gets off the ground.' George hasn't sat down with Tuivasa-Sheck to discuss his future yet, with the Warriors boss warning other clubs that they should be prepared for their star players to be offered life-changing sums of money. 'There are a lot of sports and a lot of innovations around sport that come around from time to time,' he said on SEN. 'Being over here in New Zealand where rugby is very big, I've been hearing a lot over the last month in particular about Rugby 360 getting off the ground and the discussions they're having with any number of rugby players. 'I've heard, quite frankly, that a number of our major names in rugby league would be a target to them as well. I get that because they're a PR machine and they'd be great for their sport. 'I think it's real, but is it going to tear apart rugby league? Absolutely not. We've got the greatest game in the world. 'However, I'm sure they'll come knocking and cause some clubs some headaches with the financial windfalls on offer.'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘What if this 360 throws a $3m deal at Cleary?': Rebel competition threat is ‘real' as clubs prepare for stars to be offered crazy money
Warriors chief executive Cameron George concedes the threat of rugby's breakaway competition R360 poaching players on lucrative deals is real, but he laughed off suggestions that it could tear apart rugby league. The comments come on the back of reports Warriors superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been offered $1m a season to sign up, sparking speculation they could go after Nathan Cleary on a deal that would blow that figure out of the water. No NRL club could compete financially if R360 offered the four-time premiership-winning halfback a deal worth $3m a year – a sum Broncos legend Corey Parker mentioned on radio on Thursday morning. It's still unclear exactly what the competition would look like, but early reports suggest it would feature 12 teams and be played all over the world with the backing of Saudi Arabia. 'This rebel competition is threatening to steal a lot of stars out of the NRL,' Parker said on SENQ Breakfast, with Kalyn Ponga and Ryan Papenhuyzen also mentioned as possible targets. 'I have always been adamant about – we saw SBW (Sonny Bill Williams) leave to go to rugby, there's always been players leave to rugby. 'We jump up and down about it and say we need to keep them. The game is like a big wheel – it will keep turning with or without you. 'But this R360, which is still yet to get off the ground, it is set to diminish and take away some of our superstars of the game. My question is, which NRL players would you target to go cross code for this competition in Saudi Arabia? 'RTS overnight, he has been in union for a couple of years. Now back playing for the Warriors. He has presented a fair bit of interest that he wants to go over and could command $1m. 'If you're pulling away some of our superstars, let's say a Cleary, we have spoken about him playing union, what if this 360 throws a $3 million deal at Cleary? 'He has the currency for union. Why wouldn't he go and play union for $3m a year? 'There's a real concern if this gets off the ground.' George hasn't sat down with Tuivasa-Sheck to discuss his future yet, with the Warriors boss warning other clubs that they should be prepared for their star players to be offered life-changing sums of money. 'There are a lot of sports and a lot of innovations around sport that come around from time to time,' he said on SEN. 'Being over here in New Zealand where rugby is very big, I've been hearing a lot over the last month in particular about Rugby 360 getting off the ground and the discussions they're having with any number of rugby players. 'I've heard, quite frankly, that a number of our major names in rugby league would be a target to them as well. I get that because they're a PR machine and they'd be great for their sport. 'I think it's real, but is it going to tear apart rugby league? Absolutely not. We've got the greatest game in the world. 'However, I'm sure they'll come knocking and cause some clubs some headaches with the financial windfalls on offer.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Revealed: What NRL stars are sniffing before games - after fans spotted some of the league's biggest stars in strange act before match
It was the vision that left footy fans wanting answers - what exactly were the Origin stars including Nathan Cleary and Latrell Mitchell sniffing in the sheds ahead of the series decider? The answer will surprise many: a combination of boiling water and eucalyptus oil, which helps clear the airways. The treatment can also potentially enhance focus for athletes. Both NSW and Queensland players were spotted inhaling moments before heading out on to Accor Stadium in Sydney on July 9. According to Maroons team doctor Matthew Hislop, the smell is 'pretty pungent' - and he revealed the practice is becoming more common in the NRL. Another method is the use of smelling salts – also known as ammonium carbonate, which can be paired with eucalyptus oil. The answer will surprise many - a combination of boiling water and eucalyptus oil, which helps clear the sinuses - it can also potentially enhance alertness and focus for athletes Luke Bowen, a senior exercise physiologist, told the Sydney Morning Herald that even though smelling salts have been outlawed under NRL concussion protocols, the ritual still unfolds in many dressing rooms. 'I don't think they're prohibited, but yes, they are widely used in rugby league,' Bowen said, before adding that some clubs also use Vicks VapoRub on their players. 'It increases your alertness and your arousal. There is (also) some weak evidence around increasing heart rate, increasing respiratory rate.' In 2013, the NRL warned clubs off using smelling salts, fearing a dangerous outcome when treating head injuries, namely concussions. Ominously, the smelling salts were frquently used to bring players out of their daze. 'The NRL continues to monitor each game in relation to compliance with our rules relating to head injuries,' NRL football operations manager Nathan McGuirk said at the time. 'The vast majority of cases of head injuries have been dealt with in a textbook manner by club medical and training staff, however there have been rare occasions that have required clubs to provide further information in relation to concerning incidents. 'We will continue to develop and review the games rules and procedures in relation to head injuries by following the current and latest research from the world's leading experts in the field of concussion. 'We have made dramatic rule changes to the way the game is played including the world-wide ban of the shoulder charge technique.'
