Nathan Cleary's stunning Super League confession comes to light

Nathan Cleary's manager has dismissed claims the Panthers halfback is weighing up a move to the UK Super League to be closer to his partner, football star Mary Fowler. In a switch that would send shockwaves through the NRL, NewsCorp reported over the weekend that the Panthers star is weighing up making the switch to England so he can spend more time with the Matildas and Manchester City forward. The pair have been together since late last year and their relationship could now see Cleary move abroad to be by her side, in what would be a massive coup for the Super League. Veteran journalist Buzz Rothfield suggested that if the move did happen it wouldn't be for the remainder of his career but just for next year. However, Cleary's manager George Mimis and Panthers boss Brian Fletcher have shut down claims the star halfback could be on the move, stating it isn't something that has been discussed or that is currently on the table. Cleary is signed to the Panthers until the end of the 2027 season and NewsCorp reported in July the Panthers had opened talks about extending Cleary's contract even further as part of a $13.5 million super deal that would keep Nathan and father Ivan at the club. But while at face value a move to the Super League may seem far-fetched, in an interview with the Mirror earlier this year, it was something the Panthers halfback said he would definitely consider. "I'm not against it (a move to the Super League). I have a pretty open mind to that kind of stuff," Cleary said ahead of the 2024 NRL campaign. "I think just being able to experience different cultures and different experiences is something I enjoy doing. I'm not closed off to that idea." Fowler is based in the UK with club side Manchester City, meaning as it stands the couple's time together is limited. The 21-year-old came home to spend time with Cleary in the football off-season. Cleary also made the most of some unfortunate injuries this year to be with Fowler.

Milford's on the move

Veteran Dolphins utility Anthony Milford is close to signing a deal to finish his career with Leigh Leopards in the Super League.A former Queensland State of Origin and Samoan Test representative, Milford is still only 29 years of age but had a disappointing season at the Dolphins.He was dropped in the pre-season due to an allegedly poor attitude and was only used by Bennett when the Dolphins got hit by injury.A tremendous talent on his day, Milford has been an enimga throughout his 11-year career with the Raiders, Broncos, Knights and Dolphins.The halfback/five-eighth/fullback still has the ability to carve up a defence and is likely to be a big hit in Super League.

Knights reject poaching attempt of star forward

Newcastle have rejected a bid by Super League club Warrington to allow star forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon to join them immediately.The Wolves want Fitzgibbon, who signed a three year deal with the club to start in 2024, to make the switch now to help them with their Super League title hopes.With both clubs in precarious positions on their respective ladders, the Knights declined the approach in the belief that they can still make the finals with a strong run in the latter stages of the season.The Knights are in 14th spot on the ladder, but a big win over the Bulldogs followed by the bye last weekend has them just three points away from eighth position.In England, Warrington are in fifth spot on the ladder, but only four points behind leaders Catalans Dragons, who suffered a shock loss to Huddersfield, who are third from the bottom.Fitzgibbon, 29, had offers from both rival NRL clubs and England but opted to take the long-term deal at Warrington in a move that will possibly see out his career.

Former Titan to Find New Home

French Super League team Catalans Dragons are the favourites to sign former Titans outside back Patrick Herbert. Herbert, 26, was granted an early release from his Titans contract last week by mutual consent. He has been in talks with several Super League franchises, with Catalans appearing most likely to gain his services. Herbert played 20 games in his first Titans season in 2021, helping the club reach the finals. But injuries and patchy form over the past two seasons have stalled his progress.

English Great eyeing NRL Gig

Former England Test forward Lee Radford has been sacked as coach of Castleford after just three games. The 43-year-old is a hot commodity in the coaching world, however, and is set to look for an assistant's job in the NRL. Radford was a key figure in the Samoan squad that shocked the league universe by reaching last year's World Cup final. Radford is good friends - and a former teammate at Hull FC - of Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon. But the Sharks have two astute assistant coaches in Steve Price and Josh Hannay and another rising coach in Daniel Holdsworth waiting in the wings. So Radford will spend the next few months sending his resume to other NRL clubs hoping for a start.

Twist in Croft's Super League Deal

Former Broncos and Storm halfback Brodie Croft made headlines last week by signing a deal with Salford in Super League for a staggering seven years. But there's no guarantee that 25-year-old Croft will be hanging around in the UK for anywhere near that long. In the fine print of the deal is a get-out clause - at the end of every one of those seven seasons. Only weeks ago, Croft was linked with the Dragons but opted to stay in Super League to work on his skills and game management. With a lack of quality halves in the NRL, don't be surprised if one or two Aussie clubs come knocking on his door again for 2024.

Brilliant young English gun in sights of NRL clubs

Brilliant young St Helens fullback Jack Welsby will be playing for a lot more than silverware in Saturday's World Club Challenge against Penrith. Several NRL clubs have their eyes on signing the 21-year-old, who was a standout in last weekend's win over St George Illawarra in Wollongong. Youngster Welsby is already a proven big match player, standing out in both the Super League grand final and the World Cup last year. He now has three Super League premiership wins to his name and may be tempted to test himself in the NRL. Fullback is the new super spot in the NRL, with clubs desperate for quality No.1s. But there are only so many genuine class fullbacks in Australia, forcing some clubs to look to the UK. Welsby is on a long-term deal with St Helens and the club could command a huge transfer fee for his services. But with transfer fees not counted in the salary cap, rich NRL clubs have shown they are prepared to pay up to sign the best players in Super League in recent years.

England World Cup star eyes shock NRL switch

England World Cup forward Joe Batchelor is the latest Super League player to attract the attention of NRL clubs. The St Helens back-rower is a late bloomer at 28, making his international debut in the recent World Cup. Sources have told Wide World of Sports that Batchelor has employed an Australian agent and is keen to give the NRL a go in 2024 and beyond. Batchelor starred for St Helens in their 2022 Super League Grand Final victory over Leeds and it was his efforts in the finals that saw him elevated for his World Cup debut. He comes off contract at the end of the upcoming season… and NRL clubs will be watching.

Twist for World Cup star after Radley bust-up

Irish firebrand James Bentley wants to come to Australia to prove himself in the NRL. The Leeds star made headlines on Tuesday when he was allegedly involved in a brawl with Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley at the World Cup in England. Reports from the UK say that 25-year-old Bentley, overlooked for the England team for Radley, gave Lions coach Shane Wane a fiery spray over his omission. He then allegedly locked horns with Radley, who allegedly headbutted him before the pair were separated. Bentley is rated one of the best running forwards in the Super League, scoring two tries in the shock semi-final win over Wigan that earned Leeds a spot in the grand final. Like Radley, his fiery temperament has caused him problems with referees; he was sent off in his Leeds debut at the start of this year after just 16 minutes. The tough forward played for Ireland in the World Cup after being brushed by Wane and now wants to prove he can mix it with the best of them in the NRL.

New home for Croft

The Knights have emerged as favourites to sign rejuvenated former Broncos and Storm halfback Brodie Croft. Croft was struggling when he left the NRL at the end of last season but has had a breakout year with Salford in Super League, finding confidence and maturity. He came up with 25 try assists and only this week, was named in the Super League Dream Team. It was revealed a few days ago that three un-named NRL clubs are interested in the 25-year-old halfback, but Wide World of Sports has learned that the Knights are the keenest. The Knights have struggled for a playmaker since controversially parting ways with Mitchell Pearce this season, as their lowly position on the ladder shows. Jake Clifford and Adam Clune were used by coach Adam O'Brien with only moderate success and the club knows it needs a quality number seven to be a hope of challenging for a finals spot next season. Croft still has a year on his contract at Salford but is believed to have a get-out clause to return to the NRL. Only yesterday, the Knights signed fiery Broncos five-eighth Tyson Gamble and he may well form an exciting combination with Croft.

English Coach Eyeing NRL Job

A leading English coach has emerged as a shock contender for the vacant Tigers, Bulldogs, and Warriors positions. Ian Watson, who recently took Huddersfield to the Challenge Cup final, has been put forward to the three clubs by a third party. Watson, a former halfback-hooker with nearly 300 games to his credit, is regarded as a rising star in Super League coaching. In 2019, he took battlers Salford to the Super League grand final and the following year he coached them to the Challenge Cup final before making the switch to Huddersfield. Few British coaches have made the transition to Australia but the last one to do so - former star backrower Malcolm Reilly - won a premiership with Newcastle in 1997.

NRL clubs circling England's rising Test star

The Titans are leading the race to sign highly-rated new England cap Matty Lees.A powerhouse middle forward from St Helens, Lees has been knocking on the door of Test selection for some time, with only injuries halting his progress to the international stage.Several NRL clubs have made inquiries about Lees, who has already played for England Knights and won a Challenge Cup and Super League grand final.The 24-year-old was brought into the top grade by Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook, who was then in charge at St Helens.That will doubtless give the Titans the edge in the battle for his services, but several other clubs are also in the hunt.

Horror Super League tackle catalyst for NRL switch

Newcastle's Mitch Barnett isn't the only player in the hot seat for an ugly incident in the past week. Last week in Super League, Huddersfield Giants star Will Pryce was given a ten-match ban for an awful spear tackle on Hull FC's Connor Wynne. A man who knows Pryce well - former England Test star Richard Mathers - believes the lengthy ban will see the talented utility back pack his bags and try his luck in the NRL Mathers tweeted: "Bad tackle no doubt. 10 matches is ludicrous. That in my opinion has put final piece of jigsaw for his move to the NRL, where they haven't turned the game on it's (sic) head." Several NRL clubs are already looking at Pryce, whose father Leon played 17 times for Great Britain. At 19, Will has already won selection for the England Knights, considered to be the feeder team for the England Test side.

Still No Sign of French

Mystery continues to surround the whereabouts of former Eels favourite Bevan French, who is under contract to English club Wigan. In December I reported that French flew back to Australia to be with his sick mother but was expected to return to Britain for the start of the new season. The Super League season started two weeks ago and there has still been no sign of the utility back, who is apparently still suffering the after-effects of COVID. Luckily for Wigan, former Dragon and Eel speedster Jai Field has stepped up, bagging a hat trick last weekend as the club waits for further developments in the French saga.

Broncos No.9 also set for Super League

Still on the Broncos, journeyman hooker Danny Levi, who played a key role in the big win over the Cowboys on the weekend - is all but lost to the club. Levi set up a try for Kotoni Staggs when he replaced the injured Jake Turpin and was generally sharp around dummy-half. The former Manly and Newcastle No.9 is a genuine hooker who gets his team on the front foot and has been made a long-term offer from English club Huddersfield. Levi, who would have played more football for the Broncos this year but for Turpin's excellent form, looks set to take the offer.

International prop James Gavet to boost finals bound NRL club

Journeyman prop James Gavet could be a late X-factor for one of the NRL teams in the finals race. A fearsome front-rower who played for the Tigers, Bulldogs, Warriors, Knights and Broncos, hard-hitting Gavet has been playing for English club Huddersfield for the past two seasons. But the 31-year-old has made the snap decision to return home for personal reasons and is hoping to find a club before the August 1 transfer deadline. A Samoan international with nearly 100 top grade games to his name, Gavet had been in good form in Super League and would be a handy addition to a club that has lost forwards through injury for the finals. The big prop will have to spend two weeks in quarantine when he returns to Australia, making him an unrealistic proposition for teams out of the finals race. The Sydney-born prop debuted for the Bulldogs in 2012 but has been unable to find a long-term home throughout his career to date.

Warrington warns off NRL clubs chasing star Gareth Widdop

English club Warrington has issued a strong 'hands off' warning to the two NRL clubs rumoured to be vying to sign veteran playmaker Gareth Widdop. Widdop's young family is based in Australia and the former Dragon was keen to join them several months ago when COVID was at its peak in the UK. Canberra - who have lost fellow Brit George Williams - and the Warriors - whose star youngster Chanel Harris-Tavita is out for the season with a pec injury from last weekend - are believed to be keen to sign Widdop. But Warrington boss Karl Fitzpatrick has declared there is no way they are letting Widdop go - even though they are about to sign Williams from the Raiders. The 32-year-old Widdop's form has been so impressive in recent weeks that he has earned a recall to the England squad.

Inglis Stint may already been done

There's whispers that Greg Inglis' comeback in England with the Warrington club could be short-lived. Inglis tore his hamstring badly three weeks ago and hasn't even started rehab yet, with sources telling me the 34-year-old is 'resting'. Whether at age 34 he can come back from such a serious injury - a grade three tear - remains to be seen. The Wolves are also in the hunt for former Raiders halfback George Williams and may want to do some juggling with their salary cap with 'GI' to squeeze the talented No.7 into their squad. Inglis has played just three games for Wolves, showing some glimpses of his best with two tries.