Daily Telegraph Reveals Tigers’ $9m Cleary and Fowler Bid

The Wests Tigers launched a secret $9 million play to lure Nathan Cleary to the club in a package deal that would have brought Matildas star Mary Fowler to the A-League, the Daily Telegraph reported. The audacious bid, engineered by Tigers chief executive Shaun Mielekamp and signed off by Holman Barnes boss Daniel Paton, offered a combined $3 million per season across three years starting from 2028.

The Financial Breakdown of the Blockbuster Bid

Under the terms of the proposal revealed by the Daily Telegraph, Cleary would have pocketed $1.7 million to $1.8 million per season, putting him in line to become the highest earner in the NRL. Meanwhile, Fowler’s contract at the Central Coast Mariners—whose parent company, the Holman Barnes Group, also owns the Wests Tigers—would have been worth a substantial yearly sum. The Daily Telegraph reported that Fowler’s proposed figure would have been basically double her current earnings at Manchester City and would have stood alone as far as A-League Women contracts go.

Talks between the Tigers and Cleary’s management remained active up until at least 96 hours ago, according to the Daily Telegraph. The club went on an all-out assault to secure the halfback, using shared ownership to bridge two different football codes.

Cleary Rejects Massive Offer from PNG Chiefs

The Tigers were not the only heavy hitters pursuing the star playmaker after he officially became a free agent for the 2028 season on November 1. Reports indicated that the PNG Chiefs tabled an offer worth up to $8.4 million over three years when factoring in tax breaks and third-party agreements. Cleary ultimately turned down the expansion franchise, with his management communicating a lack of interest in the PNG project.

Despite the staggering sums tabled by rival outfits, Cleary is widely expected to remain at the foot of the mountains. Penrith have been linked to a two-year extension with a further two-year player option. The recent announcement of younger brother Jett returning to the club makes an immediate exit unlikely.

Cleary Faces Intensive Rehabilitation After Leg Break

While contract speculation swirls, Cleary faces an intensive rehabilitation schedule following a severe leg break sustained during the finals. Reports said the halfback suffered a broken fibula, a dislocated tibia, and a syndesmosis injury stemming from a hip-drop tackle by Phoenix Crossland. Having already undergone initial surgery to repair the structural damage, Cleary is scheduled to undergo tightrope surgery on his ankle in the coming weeks to insert a braided rope that stabilizes the bone.

Panthers officials reportedly believe the star No.7 could be up and walking in the next fortnight after his latest hospital trip, with the club confident he could be fit for Round 1 of the 2027 NRL season.

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