Jett Cleary granted early release from Warriors to join Panthers

The New Zealand Warriors have granted 21-year-old halfback Jett Cleary an early release from the final year of his contract. The move is expected to facilitate his return to the Penrith Panthers in Sydney.

Cleary, who played in the junior grades for the Panthers before joining the Warriors in 2024, is expected to reunite with his brother, Nathan Cleary, and play under his father, Ivan Cleary, during Ivan’s final year as head coach. While Cleary has yet to make his NRL debut, he was a key player for the Warriors’ NSW Cup side, contributing to two titles last year.

Warriors recruitment manager Andrew McFadden stated that while the club was keen for Cleary to remain, they accepted his desire to return home. The departure leaves the Warriors with several experienced halves options for next season, including Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita, and Te Maire Martin.