Nathan Cleary’s younger brother Jett Cleary has requested a release from his contract at the New Zealand Warriors with an eye to returning to his family at Penrith next year.
According to Code Sports, the 21-year-old has told Warriors bosses of his wish to return to the Panthers ahead of next season, citing personal reasons.
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Jett’s contract at the Warriors is due to expire at the end of the 2027 season. The young playmaker is yet to make his NRL debut but has played a key role in the club’s NSW Cup side, winning a premiership last year.
The Panthers and Warriors are reportedly in talks about the details of a possible release — the Warriors will likely seek compensation and the Panthers may have to release a contracted player or give financial compensation to get the move done.
Jett signed a three-year deal in 2025 to join the Warriors but the goalkicking half is now looking to return to Penrith where he would be reunited with older brother Nathan and his dad, coach Ivan Cleary.
Ivan has one more year in charge of the Panthers before Peter Wallace takes over as Penrith coach, while Nathan’s future beyond the 2027 season is still yet to be finalised.
A return to Penrith would give Jett the chance to possibly play alongside Nathan in the halves under his dad’s tutelage.
Jett would have to battle it out with Blaize Talagi and Jack Cogger for the starting five-eighth spot in Penrith’s team.
Jett has played 18 NSW Cup games for the Warriors and was seen chatting to Nathan on the field after the NRL game between Penrith and the Warriors last week.
The Warriors’ playmaking stocks are fairly full with Tanah Boyd, Chanel Haris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin contracted, with Luke Metcalf heading to the Dragons next season.
Broncos land Storm forward
Elsewhere in NRL transfer news, the Brisbane Broncos have confirmed the signing of Samoan international Shawn Blore on a two-year deal from next season.
Back-rower Blore, who will join Brisbane from Melbourne, played for the Storm against the Broncos in last year’s NRL grand final, won 26-22 by the Queenslanders.
The 26-year-old forward signed with Melbourne from the Wests Tigers ahead of the 2024 season, and has made 58 appearances for the Storm.
Blore’s signing will help replenish struggling Brisbane’s forward stocks following the recent retirement of Corey Jensen and the impending departure of Payne Haas, who will leave the Broncos at the end of the season to join Souths.
“While we’re disappointed to see Shawn leave, we understand his decision and wish him, his partner and their family all the best with their move to Brisbane,” Storm director of football Frank Ponissi said.
– With NewsWire
Originally published as Nathan Cleary’s brother Jett requests release from NRL club