Phil Gould dismisses potential Nathan Cleary departure from Penrith

Phil Gould has publicly addressed speculation surrounding the future of Nathan Cleary, dismissing the possibility of the Penrith halfback leaving the club. Despite rumors and the upcoming ability for the player to negotiate with rivals in November, Gould remains confident the star will remain at the foot of the mountains to pursue further premierships. Nathan Cleary is currently guiding a Panthers side that sits second on the NRL ladder. Meanwhile, his younger brother Jett Cleary recently completed his NRL debut for the New Zealand Warriors, contributing three try assists during a 46-32 win. The Warriors currently hold the top position on the ladder with one round remaining in the regular season. This development follows news that Ivan will step down as head coach of Penrith at the end of next year, while Brian To'o is set to join the PNG Chiefs.

• 11:31 PMZero Tackle NRL — Gould pours cold water on Cleary departure speculation