Warriors reluctantly grant Cleary release from contract
Warriors halfback Jett Cleary has requested and been granted a release from the last year of his contract, where he’s expected to sign with the Penrith Panthers.
The 21-year-old joined the Warriors in late 2024 on a three-year deal until the end of 2027 but will depart a year early as he looks to return to the Panthers to be coached by his dad and play alongside his brother.
Recruitment boss Andrew McFadden says the Warriors were keen for Cleary to stay but accepted his reasons for wanting to go home.
The Panthers are yet to formally make an announcement, but his desire to return to Australia is understood to be driven by the opportunity to play under his father Ivan Cleary, in what will be his final season as an NRL coach, and with his older brother Nathan Cleary.
Ivan Cleary has previously indicated that he has no desire to coach another NRL club once he leaves Penrith, although he has left the door open to continuing in a representative role.
Nathan Cleary’s future is also uncertain, with his current Panthers contract expiring at the end of 2027 and the star halfback free to negotiate with other clubs from November 1.
While Jett Cleary is yet to make his NRL debut, he has established himself as a key member of the Warriors’ NSW Cup side, helping the club to two titles last year, including the State Championship.
Cleary, who was born in Auckland when his dad was an assistant at the Warriors, has featured in 19 NSW Cup games this season, scoring six tries and providing nine try assists.
He was set to become part of the Warriors’ top-30 squad next season.
His departure would leave the Warriors with just three halves with NRL experience contracted to their top-30 squad for next season in Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin.
Boyd, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Harris-Tavita are both contracted until the end of 2029, while Martin is only contracted until the end of the 2027 season.
Uncapped five-eighth Jye Linnane is also part of the Warriors’ top 30, but he’s on the comeback from back-to-back ACL injuries in the NSW Cup and has found himself playing out of position at centre where he has scored 12 tries in 11 games.
Further down the ranks, they do have a highly rated Australian halfback prospect, Jack Thompson, who is playing in the Jersey Flegg (Under-21) competition, alongside former Tasman Mako Harry Inch, although he has been playing at lock in recent weeks.
They also re-signed Noah Jensen after the young playmaker made a successful return to the U21s following a bone marrow transplant last year.
With Cleary, the Warriors are also losing Luke Metcalf and Luke Hanson, who are off to the St George Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans respectively.
With Boyd, Martin and Metcalf injured this weekend, the Warriors have named Harris-Tavita and Hanson the halves for this weekend’s match against the Rabbitohs, with Cleary on the extended bench.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeart app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeart is easy to use and all FREE
