- Melbourne wanted to sign Nathan Cleary in 2015
- They were informed that the running back wanted to stay with the Panthers
- Cleary is now a three-time NRL premiership winner
- Penrith face Melbourne in 2024 NRL grand final
Many fans have dubbed him the ‘Prince of Penrith’, but NRL superstar Nathan Cleary has revealed he could have joined the Melbourne Storm just under a decade ago.
The year was 2015 and Craig Bellamy was looking for a replacement for Cooper Cronk, and Ivan Cleary had just been fired by Phil Gould at the Panthers for being “tired.”
Cleary, now a three-time premiership-winning coach after his return to the club in 2019, was in the conversation to be a consultant at AAMI Park.
His son Nathan, who had yet to make his NRL debut, had a clause in his contract that could have made the halfback a free agent.
“I remember there were whispers, but nothing concrete,” Cleary said. News Corporation.
The Storm asked the question about the emerging playmaker but were politely informed that Cleary wanted to stay with his teammates at the foot of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.
Melbourne then turned their attention to Jahrome Hughes, turning the full-back into an elite number seven.
And on Sunday night at Accor Stadium, whoever wins the singles battle between Cleary and Hughes will likely wear a premiership ring moments after full-time.
In a sliding-doors moment, NRL superstar Nathan Cleary revealed he could have joined the Melbourne Storm just under a decade ago.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was said to be interested, but after Cleary stayed at Penrith, the Storm turned their attention to developing Jahrome Hughes.
The former full-back has shown his class in the halves and is now a Dally M Medal winner too.
Hughes will be full of confidence after winning the coveted Dally M Medal on Wednesday, while Cleary is seeking his fourth consecutive premiership.
“I think they (Storm) are pretty happy with their decision anyway,” a modest Cleary said of his opposite number Hughes, who is also a New Zealand international.
“(You could say) it worked both ways.”
Penrith’s playing group also still bears scars from the 2020 NRL decider.
Melbourne, who were underdogs heading into the clash, raced to a 26-0 lead early in the second half following a try from fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.
While the smaller releases finished strong, Storm held on to win a thriller.
Penrith bounced back to win titles from 2021 to 2023, and they will eclipse the famous Parramatta team of the 1980s if they win four consecutive grand finals on Sunday.
Kick-off will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.
