Joe Schmidt's 'spread his wings' reaction to Nathan Cleary rumours

The New Zealand rugby nursery responsible for Wallabies wrecking ball Taniela Tupou is the latest link between Nathan Cleary and a shock code switch.

Fifty days out from the first British and Irish Lions Test in Brisbane, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has weighed in on the prospect of the Penrith NRL halfback making the move to rugby.

Asked for his thoughts, the Kiwi coach was quick to point out Cleary spent two years at Auckland’s Sacred Hearts College while his father Ivan coached the Warriors.

It comes after two-time World Cup winner Tim Horan claimed the NSW State of Origin star was “quite keen to come to rugby”, with cashed-up European clubs an option given Cleary’s UK-based Matildas star girlfriend Mary Fowler plays for Manchester City.

“I watched State of Origin … he obviously went to Sacred Heart College in New Zealand when Ivan was coaching the Warriors,” Schmidt said.

“That’s (former All Blacks captain) Sean Fitzpatrick country, that’s Taniela Tupou country. It’s certainly a rugby school.

“He played soccer as a young man, he’s played league. He might want to spread his wings.

“At the same time, we’ve got a really good stock there that we’re focused on in the very short term.”

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Schmidt will slowly add to his wider Wallabies squad as Australia’s teams finish their Super Rugby Pacific duties, with the NSW Waratahs hopeful of joining the Queensland Reds and ACT Brumbies in next week’s finals series.

The first squad will be selected in grand final week next month, if no Australian team is featuring.

But Schmidt, explaining in cricketing parlance, said any team that did reach the decider would naturally command attention from Test selectors.

“It does ramp up; there’s more pressure in play-off games, and we’re getting a few guys back,” he said of the weight placed on finals form.

“The longer you stay at the crease, the more chance you’ve got to accumulate runs.

“We might even see a couple of nice strokes that get them over the line.”

The coach was also thrilled to learn that halfback Tate McDermott had declined the sabbatical option in his contract for next season and would be remaining at the Reds, alongside budding Test No.10 Tom Lynagh.

“He’s an integral part, a really important cog in the wheel for the Reds and the Wallabies, and that stability allows him to continue combinations,” Schmidt said.

“That helps when the pressure comes on.

“If Tate went on a sabbatical, we weren’t letting him go for long anyway … but to have him continuously is a huge advantage.”

McDermott said continuity on and off the field – he is to be married this year – contributed to his decision.

“I’m not going to stand here and say I had 100 offers, because I didn’t. There was some interest in Europe, but I love playing for Queensland,” he said.

McDermott and Lynagh have combined well for the Reds and could wear the No.9 and No.10 for the Wallabies later this year.

“We’ve only just started. We can go into the Test arena together,” McDermott said ahead of the Reds’ final regular-season game against the Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

“In order to do that we have to be playing consistently well in the maroon jersey.

“We’re not where we want to be, but moving in the right direction, and the continuity, I’m happy to be a part of that.

“I want to win more with Queensland.”