NRL put Chiefs on notice after director’s comments about Cleary

The NRL let the PNG Chiefs off the hook for a potential breach of anti-tampering rules after a board member said the signing of Nathan Cleary would “stop the whole nation”.

Strict new regulations were introduced this year banning clubs from courting players through public commentary unless they have entered the final year of their contracts.

The NRL-owned Perth Bears were the first to fall foul of the crackdown, fined $40,000 in June for comments made by coach Mal Meninga in which he acknowledged interest in Cleary and Bulldogs duo Matt Burton and Jacob Preston.

It can now be revealed the Chiefs, who are also controlled by the NRL, were warned but escaped sanctioning for earlier remarks by PNG director and former Kumuls international Marcus Bai about Cleary and his partner, Matildas footballer Mary Fowler.

“I would love to see Nathan Cleary playing for PNG,” News Corp quoted Bai as saying in comments that first appeared in March and were republished on Friday.

“When locals here talk about Nathan Cleary, the people say he is our brother-in-law … everyone is claiming Nathan Cleary because his girlfriend has PNG heritage.

“If Nathan Cleary turned up at the airport, he wouldn’t get out the doors, he would be leaving in a car with the prime minister.

“I can tell you now, if Nathan Cleary signs for PNG, it will stop the whole nation.”

The NRL declined to comment on Friday, but it is understood officials at the governing body cautioned the Chiefs about the comments in March and reminded them of their responsibilities under the game’s anti-tampering guidelines.

The updated rules came into effect on February 1.

They include “certain public and private statements that could be seen as attempts to lure or entice a player to join another club”.

Broad in nature, the rules “capture any expression of interest – public or private – made to anyone involved or related to player contracting or through the media, aimed at securing or providing a player’s services during periods when the NRL rules prohibit player negotiations”.

Cleary is not a free agent for 2028 until November 1, so rival teams are unable to approach him until then.

Meninga and the Bears were fined over comments the coach made to a reporter who was flown over to Perth by the club.

“There has also been a heap of noise around Matt Burton,” said Meninga, whose $20,000 fine was suspended.

“Jacob Preston, he’s someone coming off contract after 2027, we’ll be in the picture. We will have enough money in our cap to maybe chase a Nathan [Cleary] or a Jake if they come onto the open market.”

As with the Bears, the effective result of any penalty meted out to the Chiefs would have been the NRL punishing itself. But they were spared the fate of Perth and Meninga.

Bai, a Melbourne Storm premiership winner in 1999 who played 13 Tests for PNG, was said not to have been aware of the rules at the time.

Cleary is an obvious target for the Australian government-backed franchise, which will join the competition in 2028.

The tax-free wages and third-party deals on offer in Port Moresby would push his earnings into the stratosphere if he agreed to join former Panthers teammates Jarome Luai and Brian To’o in the foundation squad.

Since being put on notice over Bai’s flattery of Cleary, though, the Chiefs have been careful about mentioning the names of possible recruits.

Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas, a former journalist at this masthead, is acutely aware of the anti-tampering restrictions and has deftly handled inevitable questions about Cleary during television and radio appearances.

Two-time grand final winner Joey Manu became PNG’s seventh player signing this week.

The 30-year-old will return to the NRL on a two-year deal with the Chiefs after two years in rugby.

PNG also added To’o to their roster this month after the representative winger was granted a seven-day window to speak to the Chiefs.

Canberra and NSW back-rower Hudson Young has also been given permission by the Raiders to open talks with the Chiefs and visit Port Moresby next month.