The NRL's newest franchise, the PNG Chiefs, have been issued a warning over comments made by club director Marcus Bai regarding Penrith Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary, after the Perth Bears were fined $40,000 for a similar breach.
The Chiefs, who are owned by the NRL and will enter the competition as the 19th franchise in 2028, were cautioned by the NRL after comments from Bai about Cleary were reported to News Corp.
The comments, which were initially made in March, were republished by News Corp this week, bringing renewed attention to the remarks.
“I would love to see Nathan Cleary playing for PNG,” Bai told News Corp.
“When locals here talk about Nathan Cleary, the people say he is our brother-in-law … everyone is claiming Nathan Cleary because his girlfriend has PNG heritage.
“If Nathan Cleary turned up at the airport, he wouldn't get out the doors; he would be leaving in a car with the prime minister.
“I can tell you now, if Nathan Cleary signs for PNG, it will stop the whole nation.”
The Sydney Morning Herald now reveals the NRL cautioned the Chiefs about Bai's comments in March, with the club escaping without a financial penalty and instead receiving a warning.
The situation comes under the NRL's strengthened anti-tampering rules, which were changed on February 1 this year.
The updated rules prohibit “certain public and private statements that could be seen as attempts to lure or entice a player to join another club”.
Under the new regulations, players who are off contract at the end of the following season cannot negotiate with rival clubs until November 1. Clubs are also prohibited from publicly expressing interest in those players before that date, with such comments potentially constituting tampering.
The NRL warned when introducing the changes that breaches could carry significant consequences.
"Penalties for breaching the new anti-tampering rules may include financial penalties for offending Clubs, Players and Accredited Agents, salary cap penalties for offending Clubs, and in the most serious circumstances deregistration of Club Officials, accredited agents and players," NRL said in their statement.
The rules were strengthened following the contract saga involving Lachlan Galvin in 2025, when comments from then-Wests Tigers general manager of football Gus Gould surrounding the young playmaker drew scrutiny before Galvin ultimately made a mid-season move from the Tigers to the Bulldogs.
The Chiefs' warning comes just months after fellow expansion club the Perth Bears were hit with a $40,000 fine for comments regarding potential recruitment targets.
In June, Bears coach Mal Meninga was fined after discussing the possibility of the club targeting Jacob Preston, Matt Burton and Cleary when they became eligible to negotiate.
“There has also been a heap of noise around Matt Burton,” Meninga told News Corp.
“Jacob Preston, he's someone coming off contract after 2027; we'll be in the picture. We will have enough money in our cap to maybe chase a Nathan [Cleary] or a Jake if they come onto the open market.”
Preston has now extended with the Bulldogs until 2031.
Cleary is yet to extend and only remains contracted to Penrith until the end of the 2027 season, he will be free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 this year.
The NRL has not publicly commented on the decision to provide the Chiefs a warning.
