Nathan Cleary Rejects Monumental $800M Offer from Bulldogs to Stay Loyal to Panthers
Penrith, NSW – In what is being hailed as one of the most remarkable acts of loyalty in modern rugby league history, superstar halfback Nathan Cleary has reportedly turned down an eye-watering $800 million deal from the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to remain with the only club he’s ever called home — the Penrith Panthers.
The Bulldogs, in a bold and unprecedented move, tabled the 10-year offer earlier this week in an effort to lure Cleary away from the reigning NRL champions. Had Cleary accepted, it would have not only shattered all existing player contract records in rugby league but also rivalled the richest athlete deals in global sports.
Instead, the 26-year-old playmaker has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Penrith, stunning fans and analysts alike by choosing legacy over luxury.
“Money comes and goes,” Cleary said in a brief statement released by the club. “But loyalty, culture, and brotherhood — you can’t put a price on that. Penrith is my home. This team, this jersey, this community — it means everything to me.”
Sources close to the negotiations reveal that the Bulldogs’ proposal included ownership stakes in future ventures, commercial endorsements, and full control over team operations — effectively making Cleary the face and architect of Canterbury’s next era. Yet even with all that power and prestige on offer, Cleary walked away.
For the Bulldogs, the failed pursuit is a massive blow. Club officials had privately hoped Cleary’s admiration for their incoming development plans and lucrative commercial backing would sway him. Instead, they are left to regroup as Penrith cements its place as the NRL’s most dominant force of the decade.
This isn’t the first time Cleary has received external interest, but the scale of the Bulldogs’ offer dwarfed anything previously presented to him. According to league insiders, Cleary had multiple chances to explore free agency but has always maintained a deep allegiance to the Panthers, where his father, Ivan Cleary, also serves as head coach.
The younger Cleary has already led the Panthers to four consecutive NRL Grand Final appearances, winning three premierships and claiming multiple Clive Churchill Medals along the way. Many believe his loyalty stems not just from on-field success, but from a strong personal connection to the club’s values and development system — one that has nurtured his rise from teenage prospect to global superstar.
“He’s a once-in-a-generation player — not just for what he does with the ball, but for who he is off the field,” said Panthers CEO Matt Cameron. “This decision speaks volumes about Nathan’s character and his belief in what we’re building at Penrith.”
With his current contract running through the end of 2027, the Panthers are now expected to work on a “lifetime” extension, potentially involving a post-playing role within the club.
In an era where big money often speaks loudest, Nathan Cleary has silenced it all with a single word: no. And in doing so, he may have just written one of the most inspiring chapters in NRL history.
