‘Lot like his brother’: Cleary to make long-awaited NRL debut
Jett Cleary is set to make his NRL debut in the halves following the late withdrawal of Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita, the Warriors have confirmed.
The 21-year-old, who is the brother of Penrith playmaker Nathan Cleary, has been playing in the club’s NSW Cup this season as he awaits his opportunity to play in first grade. He is now set to debut against the Knights.
Jett Cleary seen in action for the Warriors in the NSW Cup Getty
The Warriors said the club did not want to “risk the established halves” due to their injury concerns so close to the finals series.
Martin had been named to return from a hamstring injury that kept him on the sidelines for the last three weeks. Harris-Tavita also has a hamstring concern.
Both are expected to complete all training sessions in the coming weeks and be ready for a likely home qualifying final.
Cleary will, however, move into the halves alongside Luke Hanson.
“He is a great kid. He left his home as an 18-year-old to ply his trade abroad,” Penrith great Mark Geyer said of Cleary’s debut on 2GB’s Continous Call Team.
“He is a lot like his brother who is an astute student of the game.
“He is different to Nathan, though. Nathan was playing Origin at 21. Jett is a bit bigger in body size, but he is a crafty player.
“He won’t let anyone down when he makes his debut. Good job to the Cleary family.”
Cleary’s father Ivan and brother Nathan are expected to make the trip to Auckland to watch his game on Sunday.
Cleary had grown up playing in the Panthers′ junior footy system before making the move to the Warriors on a three-year deal last season.
He was granted an early release to return to Panthers for the 2027 season, in what will likely be the final time that the family are all working to the same club.
The Warriors will take on the Knights at home on Sunday.
