Warriors: Jett Cleary seeks release from contract to return to Panthers
Warriors halfback Jett Cleary has requested a release from the final year of his contract as he looks to return to the Penrith Panthers to be coached by his dad and play alongside his brother.
The Daily Telegraph reports Cleary informed the Warriors of his desire to return to Penrith before the 2027 season, citing personal reasons, with the request catching the New Zealand club off guard.
Cleary is contracted to the Warriors until the end of 2027 and is currently on a development deal, but was due to be upgraded to the top-30 squad next season.
The Warriors are seeking compensation should the 21-year-old leave, with the Panthers potentially having to exchange a player or provide financial remuneration as part of any release.
Cleary’s desire to return to Penrith 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, while also lining up alongside older brother Nathan Cleary.
Ivan Cleary has previously indicated 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 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 18 NSW Cup games this season, scoring six tries and providing nine try assists.
The Warriors initially signed Cleary to a three-year deal in 2024 from the Panthers.
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, Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Boyd, who is contracted until the end of 2029, is recovering from an ACL injury and is expected to be fit for the early rounds next year, while Martin and Harris-Tavita are 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.
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.
The Warriors also re-signed Noah Jensen earlier this week after the young playmaker made a successful return to the under-21s following a bone marrow transplant last year.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ top-30 squad for next season is beginning to take shape following the acquisition of North Queensland Cowboys forward Sam McIntyre, while the club has also been linked with Kiwis centre Sebastian Kris, who has fallen out of favour at the Canberra Raiders.
Centre Rocco Berry is the only player without a contract beyond this season, and he’s been linked with a move to the Melbourne Storm.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.