Nathan Cleary Considers Market Options for the First Time

Nathan Cleary has not dismissed the idea of exploring the open market at the year's end, though he acknowledges that parting ways with Penrith would be a challenging prospect.

The talented halfback is under contract with the Panthers until the conclusion of next season, and early discussions have already started involving both him and his father, Ivan.

At 28 years old, Cleary seems unhurried to finalize his future, yet if he isn't re-signed before November 1, he will likely be a sought-after player by 2028.

This would mark Cleary's first time evaluating the market, as he has previously signed long-term extensions in 2018 and 2022 ahead of becoming a free agent.

"It's a process that's pretty foreign to me, I've never done it," Cleary stated prior to the upcoming match against Parramatta.

"That's a discussion to be had in the coming weeks or months or whatever. I don't know."

"(I've said) I wasn't going to close off any avenues, like I was quite open to everything ... I just didn't want to really lock myself in too early."

"But I've always said as well that a week is such a long time in rugby league let alone a few months, so you just don't know what's going to happen."

While Cleary believes it's premature to discuss his future, he admits that ongoing speculation might push him towards making a faster decision.