“There’s no downplaying this, it’s going to be huge”.
That is Braith Anasta’s assessment of the NRL’s looming November 1 free agency frenzy, with a mountain of talent set to hit the open market.
The Perth Bears are armed with a war chest, having struggled to sign a marquee star, while the PNG Chiefs have tax-free dollars to throw at big-name players.
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And one name sits atop of every club’s dream signings wishlist — Nathan Cleary.
“I think it will be the biggest (free agency) we have seen in terms of dollars,” The Australian’s Brent Read said on NRL360.
“We have seen what Hudson Young has been offered, there’s guys who are going to head to market that are going to be offered a lot more money than that.
“We could know by then what the salary cap is going to be in 2028… there could be some astronomical figures on the table.”
Cleary will undoubtedly be the subject of those “astronomical” contract offers, with the superstar halfback set to hit the open market after making a shock call on his looming negotiations.
“I don’t think he wants to sit down and start talks yet,” Read explained.
“I think he now wants to get the season out of the way, but then he is going to be in the World Cup so that is going to make things problematic.”
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Cleary also told the SMH that his contract decision was “not something I want to rush”.
“It’s a big decision, and I feel like one thing has rolled into another. The Origin period was so hectic, and when we came out of it, we weren’t playing our best footy. My mind has just been elsewhere,” he said.
“I have another whole year of Penrith anyway, and it’s always felt like it’s so far away, but I guess it is creeping up a bit now. I’m pretty patient with it.”
