With the annual release of The Daily Telegraph’s ‘NRL Rich 100’ list, Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary has been revealed as the second highest-paid player in the competition for 2023.
Cleary’s $1.3 million dollar contract is just $100k shy of Kalyn Ponga’s $1.4 million deal but does have a massive decreasing salary until the end of his deal in 2027.
The 25-year-old’s front-ended deal will significantly help the Panthers retain the majority of their Premiership-winning side in the next couple of years, according to The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel.
“Nathan Cleary, who was number one last year, he’s gone down to number two, he’s been (taken over) by Kalyn Ponga,” Badel told SEN 1170 The Run Home.
“He’s on $1.3 million this year, his salary will actually reduce, over the coming years.
“He’s tried to take less to keep Penrith together, which is a pretty noble act from Nathan.”
The Panthers’ reign of success beginning in 2021 has seen them lose a handful of crucial players including Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, and Api Koroisau, with Spencer Leniu and Stephen Crichton set to leave this season as well.
Despite the players lost, the Panthers have managed to keep the majority of their original Premiership-winning squad, something that SEN’s Joel Caine believes is a common trend with championship sides.
“You know what I got out of this (NRL Rich 100), remember Tom Brady, he would take unders… and that would allow that team to get better players around him,” Caine added.
“Only two players in (the) top eight in (the) highest paid players list are in the top eight (on the NRL ladder), that’s pretty damming.”
Cleary’s salary reduction will come at a crucial time for the club where they will attempt to re-sign Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai and Liam Martin before they are free to negotiate with rival clubs.