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Live sport on SN this weekend'Can't even happen': Warriors deny Nathan Cleary recruitment talks
Sport Nation • July 24th, 2026 2:43 pm
Nathan Cleary | Photo: Photosport
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has shut down speculation linking Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary with a move to Auckland, insisting the club has had no contact with the halfback or his management.
Rumours of a potential switch have intensified with Cleary coming off contract at the end of the 2027 season, but Webster said any discussions would be illegal before the NRL's November 1 free agency window opens.
"We're definitely not in talks with Nathan Cleary and none of his representation have contacted us - and it's not even legal," Webster said.
"It can't even happen."
Webster acknowledged why fans have connected Cleary with the Warriors, given the 28-year-old spent much of his childhood in Auckland while father Ivan played and coached at the club.
"Everyone's trying to guess what Nathan's doing, I guess, and they can see the romance in the Warriors," Webster said.
"I see the romance in that scenario. He went to school here, he was a ballboy here... but there's certainly nothing in that at all."
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Webster also played down speculation surrounding former Roosters star Joseph Manu, saying the club has had no contact with the NZ Kiwis-turned-rugby union prospect, despite reports linking him to a return to the NRL.
Cleary remains contracted to Penrith through next season, while his younger brother Jett is set to join the Warriors on a full-time contract in 2027.
In more immediate matters, Webster is expecting a high intensity clash against the Bulldogs in Sydney on Saturday.
After a disappointing stretch, Canterbury bounced back with a 32-0 shutout of the Wests Tigers last weekend - an improvement Websters believes came on the back of hard work, line speed and the return of some key players.
And they'll welcome their most critical player back against the Warriors, with Stephen Crichton back from a nerve injury.
"We plan for what Stephen’s strengths are and how we stop them, as opposed to we change everything just because of Stephen," Webster explained.
"We know that we’ve got to make sure that we don’t let him be as creative as he can be because he’s very, very good at it.”
"They’re certainly very dangerous. I just think they’ve always been a hard-working team. Their forwards want to put you under pressure. They’ve got great line speed. They want to send you the other way. They want to drive you back.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got to put them under pressure as well, because I know they’re going to put us under pressure at some point.”
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