- Wigan Warriors CEO Kris Radlinski happy with club squad
- Nathan Cleary declared he ‘wouldn’t get into’ Wigan squad
- Cleary, 26, widely considered the best rugby league player in the world.
- Won a fourth consecutive NRL premiership this month with Panthers
Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski has attracted attention after boldly declaring that football superstar Nathan Cleary would not be an automatic selection for the English Super League champions.
The astonishing claim comes despite Cleary recently winning his fourth consecutive NRL grand final with Penrith and being widely regarded as the best player in the world.
“You know what, it might be the only club in the world that says he might not make our team,” Radlinski told SEN Radio this week.
“I say it with a lot of respect because I love him, but at the moment I have Bevan (French) at No. 6 and I have a guy at No. 7 called Harry Smith who had an exceptional grand final and we have had him for a long time. term and I think it is the future.
“I think (Cleary) watched the (Super League grand final) game at Old Trafford and would have been really impressed by what he saw.
“I absolutely love him and his relationship with his dad and what he’s doing, but I don’t think he’s going to make our team and that’s probably going to be a starter 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 for Manchester City and rumors continue that Cleary will seek a new sporting challenge.
Wigan Warriors chief executive Kris Radlinski (pictured left) has attracted attention after declaring that Nathan Cleary would not be an automatic selection for the Super League champions in the halves.
The astonishing claim comes despite Cleary recently winning his fourth consecutive NRL grand final with Penrith and being widely regarded as the best player in the world.
Rumors continue to circulate that Nathan Cleary will leave the NRL and play in the English Super League in a bid to be closer to his girlfriend Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler.
The rider quelled speculation at the grand finale in the UK, stating: “I won’t be moving here anytime 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 rumors, but it’s nice to come here and watch Mary play… (also) it’s nice to have a break,” the No. 7 champion 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 until the NRL finals.
“I told mum I had to play three games, and that would be it,” Cleary said after the 14-6 grand final victory over the Melbourne Storm on October 6 at Accor Stadium.
“I knew if I worked hard I could come back (from injury) for those games and be sweet.”
“It worked.”