Nathan Cleary’s romance with Matildas star Mary Fowler continues to fuel speculation the superstar halfback could be a marquee signing for the new NRL team to be based in Papua New Guinea.
The NRL formally granted the franchise a license on Thursday, but some football fans criticized the move as a political stunt that wastes $600 million of taxpayers’ money over a decade.
Daily Mail Australia understands PNG will enter the competition in 2028, and follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape meeting in person in Sydney to shake hands over the deal.
It was the culmination of two years of planning which also involved Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys.
The yet-to-be-named team is seen as a key diplomatic tool for Australia to strengthen ties in the hotly contested Pacific and prevent China’s expansion in the area, and will cost the Australian taxpayer $600 million over 10 years.
The PNG government is also expected to contribute $150 million, with rugby league being the number one sport in the country.
In 2028, assembling a competitive NRL squad will be crucial from the start, with Panthers playmaker Cleary no doubt a top target.
It may seem very ambitious, but the number 7 champion ends his contract in 2027, which means he will be a free agent the following season.
Nathan Cleary’s romance with Matildas star Mary Fowler continues to fuel speculation the superstar halfback could be a marquee signing for Papua New Guinea’s new NRL team.
Daily Mail Australia understands PNG will enter the competition in 2028, with Nathan Cleary’s contract with Penrith ending in 2027.
The sports power couple is committed to a long-distance relationship with Fowler based in England, for now.
Fowler’s mother, Nido (pictured, second from left), was born in Papua New Guinea, adding to the intrigue.
Adding to the insinuations is the fact that Fowler has PNG heritage, as his mother Nido was born there.
A possible obstacle to securing Cleary’s signature is that the team is likely to be based in Port Moresby, which has one of the highest crime rates in the world.
On the other hand, players who sign for the PNG team will not have to pay taxes, but will have to live in a commune with their families.
Fowler will turn 25 in 2028, and by then she could be ready to retire from football and start a family with Cleary, as long as they stay together.
Meanwhile, Albanese is confident the PNG-based NRL team will be a success on and off the field.
“Australia and PNG are the closest neighbors and we are the truest friends,” the prime minister said. ‘United, of course, by the love of rugby league.
‘What it’s about is not just the elite level. It’s about the grassroots level, it’s about economic development, it’s about (building) relationships.
‘And it provides, as is often the case with sport, an opportunity for people to succeed not only in sport, but also in life.
Mary Fowler will turn 25 in 2028, and by then she could be ready to retire from football and start a family with Cleary, as long as they stay together.
If Cleary seeks a new sporting challenge in Port Moresby, he will not have to pay taxes on his marquee playing contract.
‘That is why this partnership we are announcing is not just about Papua New Guinea, but also about our relationship in the Pacific.
‘The partnership will support Pacific youth, girls and boys, women and men, to play rugby league, focusing on PNG, but also Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
‘It will complement our existing health and education programs in the Pacific and create new opportunities for women and girls to also participate.
“This partnership with Pacific rugby league shows that we are serious about working with our Pacific partners, dare I say it, with members of our Pacific family, in the aspirations that we have.”