Jett Cleary has continued his family’s tradition of winning a title on NRL grand final day having taken home the State Championship, but the Warriors’ thrashing of the Burleigh Bears raised questions over the event. The Cleary’s have now tasted success on grand final day for five years running with Ivan and Nathan winning four straight NRL premierships with the Penrith Panthers.
Ivan’s side have dominated the NRL competition with their run only coming to an end this year when they lost to the Brisbane Broncos in the preliminary final. This could have ended the family’s reign on the pinnacle day with Nathan Cleary not pulling on the Panthers jersey on Sunday.
Jett Cleary (pictured right) has continued his family’s tradition of winning a title on NRL grand final day having taken home the NRL State Championship with the Warriors. (Images: Getty Images)
However, Nathan’s younger brother made sure the tradition would live on for at least another year. Jett Cleary has featured for the Warriors NSW Cup side on numerous occasions in 2025 in what has been the club’s most successful ever season.
Cleary had played 13 games before the NRL State Championship final and won 10 of them in the No.7 jersey. Cleary’s appearances became more frequent after Luke Metcalf was ruled out for the season in first grade.
Tanah Boyd moved up to first grade, which has seen Cleary become a regular in the side. However, Cleary has featured less in the finals having only come off the bench against the Eels and Dragons with Boyd back in the NSW Cup side after the Warriors were eliminated from the NRL.
Boyd hasn’t lost wearing the No.7 jersey for the NSW Cup side in 2025. But Cleary managed to feature off the bench for 13 minutes against the Burleigh Bears with the Warriors thrashing the Queensland side 50-20 in a lopsided final.
But Jett’s appearance continues the remarkable dynasty the Cleary family have created in rugby league having lifted the State Championship trophy in 2025. Cleary’s performances have also caught the attention of NRL fans.
Jett Cleary (pictured) featured for the Warriors in the NRL State Championship grand final.
The younger brother of Nathan will probably see a more permanent role ahead of next season in the state side. Recently, Warriors legend Shaun Johnson praised Cleary’s progression and felt he would benefit playing behind Boyd.
“Jett’s got that gene, that Cleary gene, where they just go after the contest. He’s definitely got it. He’s a goer, puts the chin down, knows when to take the line on,” he said on Fox Sports.
“But the thing is, Tanah Boyd, there was a stat where he didn’t lose a game all year. Every game he played … he was maybe 15 from 15 in Cup. He was their calming influence. So a great role model for someone like Jett Cleary to sit behind and see how he goes about his work, and then when the time comes, he’s able to do this sort of stuff.”
NRL State Championship final finishes in drama
Since the beginning of the State Championship, a Queensland-based side has only won three State Premierships – including Norths Devils’ two-point win over Newtown in 2024. The NSW Cup sides have dominated the competition with fewer feeder teams talking their resources.
Queensland Cup sides are generally more stretched for top players as they feed multiple teams. The Warriors’ NSW Cup side has numerous players who have represented the Warriors in first grade includingAli Leiataua, Taine Tuaupiki and Boyd.
And it showed with the score ending 50-20 in a one-sided final. The Warriors finished NSW Cup minor premiers by 11 points, but the win over the Burleigh Bears showed a gulf in class. And some fans questioned whether the event needs a change with the final proving to be an uphill battle for most Queensland sides that reach grand final day.