PNG Chiefs board member warned over Cleary comments
The PNG Chiefs have been given a reprieve and escaped with a warning after a board member’s comments around the recruitment of Nathan Cleary.
Club director Marcus Bai had told News Corp in March that he would “love to see” Cleary playing for PNG, with those comments republished this week.
Nathan Cleary warms up for the match against Canterbury. Getty Images
“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,” he said.
“I can tell you now, if Nathan Cleary signs for PNG, it will stop the whole nation.”
The Sydney Morning Herald has now revealed the NRL issued him with a warning around the competition’s anti-tampering guidelines.
The anti-tampering guidelines stop club officials from making statements that can be seen as attempts to lure a player to the club.
The Chiefs cannot offer Cleary a contract until November 1 when he is in the final year of his contract.
Cleary has been linked with the incoming franchise but PNG general manager Michael Chammas stayed tight-lipped on the interest in a recent 100% Footy episode.
The Chiefs are perhaps lucky to have escaped with only a warning after Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga was fined $40,000 for comments around his interest in Cleary, Matt Burton and Jacob Preston.
“There has also been a heap of noise around Matt Burton,” Meninga told News Corp.
“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.”
Both the PNG Chiefs and Perth Bears are owned by the NRL.
