Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski has turned heads after boldly declaring footy superstar Nathan Cleary wouldn’t be an automatic selection for the English Super League champions.
The staggering claim comes despite Cleary recently winning his fourth successive NRL grand final with Penrith – and widely being regarded as the best player in the world.
‘You know what, I might be the only club in the world who says he might not get into our team,’ Radlinski told SEN Radio this week.
‘I mean that really respectfully because I love him but at the minute I’ve got Bevan (French) at No. 6 and I’ve got a guy at No. 7 called Harry Smith who had an outstanding grand final and we’ve got him long-term and I believe he is the future.
‘I think (Cleary) witnessed the game (Super League grand final) at Old Trafford and he would have been really impressed by what he saw.
‘I absolutely love him and his relationship with his father and what he’s doing, but I just don’t think he’d get in our team and that’s probably a headline right there.’
Cleary, 26, attended the decider in Manchester to support former Panthers teammate and close friend Tyrone May, who is now on the books of Hull KR.
His girlfriend – Matildas star Mary Fowler – plays her club football for Manchester City, and rumours continue that Cleary will seek a new sporting challenge.
The halfback hosed down speculation at the grand final in the UK, stating ‘I won’t be moving over here any time soon.’
Cleary’s current contract with Penrith expires at the end of 2027, the same year as his father and coach Ivan.
‘I’ve seen all the rumours, but it is nice to get to come over here and see Mary play… it is [also] nice to just have a break,’ the champion no.7 said.
Once Cleary returns to Australia, he will undergo shoulder surgery.
He told his mother Rebecca in September it was a matter of nursing the injury through the NRL finals.
‘I said to mum that I’ve got to play three games, and that’d be it,’ Cleary said after the 14-6 grand final win over the Melbourne Storm on October 6 at Accor Stadium.
‘I knew if I worked hard that I could get back [from injury] for those games and be sweet.
‘It worked out.’