Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says Nathan Cleary might want to ‘spread his wings’ into rugby union

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is open to the idea of NSW State of Origin star Nathan Cleary switching to rugby union but is focused on the ongoing development of the national team’s current fly-half options, including Queensland Reds No.10 Tom Lynagh.

Former Wallabies centre Tim Horan this week said there were “rumours” that Cleary wanted to change codes ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing for Australian rugby to do, we’ve got a lot of talent coming through, but … if Nathan Cleary says ‘I’m interested in playing the game’ you’ve got to have a coffee,” Horan told Stan Sport.

Despite playing as a halfback in rugby league, Cleary would be suited to the fly-half role in rugby union rather than scrum-half.

The Penrith half also went to a rugby school in New Zealand when his father Ivan coached the Warriors in the NRL, and last year said he had “great admiration and respect for union players” and “somewhere down the track” he might consider changing codes.

“He (Cleary) obviously went to Sacred Heart College in New Zealand … it’s certainly a rugby school,” Schmidt said on Friday in Brisbane, where he spoke 50 days out from the first Test of the series between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium.

“He’s played soccer as a young man, he’s played league, so he might want to spread his wings and play another sport, but at the same time, we’ve got a really good stock there that we’re focused on in the very short term.”

They include Lynagh, who has impressed Schmidt in this season’s Super Rugby Pacific competition.

“I’m always looking to see more, but what I have seen is really positive. Tommy’s a really great player,” the Wallabies coach said.

“Defensively he does a good job. He’s actually a lot better in the air than people would give him credit for.

“For another big man, he gets his timing right and his technique under the ball is good. His keeping game is long enough, his passing game is efficient, and he’s growing into a guy who can drive the game around the field.

“They are a lot of the aspects that we’d be looking for.”

Schmidt has also been impressed with rugby league covert Joseph Sua’ali’i, who is sidelined with a fractured jaw.

The ability of Waratahs star Sua’ali’i to play at fullback, centre or winger makes him a handy Wallabies option, with Schmidt hoping he would be ready for Australia’s Test against Fiji on July 6 in Newcastle.

“I didn’t mind where he was playing (for the Waratahs) because as long as he was playing, he was getting that cross-code adaptation that he needed,” Schmidt said.

“That’s one of the things about the modern game. It’s not about the number on your back, it’s the role that you’re expected to play.

“Whether it’s 13, 15, or 14, Joseph’s incredibly keen to have one of those numbers on his back, and he’s working hard and he’s looking good, going in the right direction to be ready for our Test against Fiji in Newcastle, which will be the ideal warm up to come up here and compete (against the Lions).”