There is absolutely zero dispute right now that Penrith Panthers star halfback Nathan Cleary is no guarantee to remain at the club beyond the end of 2027.
That's not saying he is a certainty to leave, but with his father Ivan hanging up the coaching clipboard, Nathan admitting he is thinking about testing the market, his fiancee living abroad, Penrith's salary cap stretched and just maybe the thought of another challenge lingering in the back of his mind, a Cleary squared departure from the club's match day operations is certainly not off the table.
Sometimes in rugby league, things are a coincidence, and sometimes, they are not.
The fact Nathan Cleary has been talking about the potential of heading to November 1 uncontracted for the first time in his career for a couple of months now coincides roughly with the timeline of when his father would have been talking about, and ultimately decided, to not continue coaching, is not one of the times a coincidence has occurred.
If Cleary does decide to up sticks and leave the foot of the mountains, there are plenty of clubs who will chase his signature, but some potential homes stand out more than the rest.
Here are the options for Cleary.
4. Canterbury Bulldogs
This is maybe a no-brainer option.
The Bulldogs, who finished in the top four last year, are well on track to be a bottom-four outfit this year.
Their attack is spluttering, and that's putting it kindly.
Matt Burton is off-contract at the end of 2027, and while the club have Mitchell Woods, his injury concerns and rawness to first-grade are real concerns.
Lachlan Galvin has an extra year to run on his deal than Burton, but is better suited to the five-eighth role, and could form a dangerous combination with Cleary.
Money is the issue at Canterbury if they were to make a play, but between Burton, Max King, Jacob Preston and Bronson Xerri, there is enough money off-contract at the end of 2027 if they wanted to reshape their salary cap and playing group.
