August 30, 2026 — 4:53pm
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Ivan Cleary would have sat in a corporate box at Go Media Stadium with mixed emotions on Sunday afternoon.
His 21-year-old son, Jett, had just made his NRL debut for the New Zealand Warriors and more than held his own.
His kicking game was excellent, he survived plenty of early pressure from the Newcastle Knights and finished with four try assists, including stepping off his left foot and throwing the final pass for Jacob Laban’s first half try.
Jett’s famous older brother Nathan, who also made the trek to New Zealand, was caught by the TV cameras having a giggle when the playmaker was upended by the Knights late and a melee erupted.
While Jett will never forget the sunny – then rainy – afternoon when he helped the Warriors to a 46-32 win over the Knights, the result also meant Ivan and Nathan’s Penrith dropped to second on the ladder.
The Panthers head into the final round trailing the Warriors by just one on points differential. Thanks, Jett.
The Cleary family congratulate Jett at full-time.Getty Images
The Warriors will host Manly while the Panthers complete their regular season against Wests Tigers. Either way, both teams are now assured of a home qualifying final.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster is firming to be crowned Dally M coach of the year for guiding the Warriors to a potential minor premiership, not to mention building a squad with such excellent depth.
Jett will return home to Penrith to be coached by Ivan next year before the coach walks away from the Panthers to spend time with family, travel and potentially mentor representative sides. Jett was only given his start on Sunday following injuries to halves Luke Metcalf (hamstring), Te Maire Martin (hamstring) and Chanel Harris-Tavita (hamstring tightness).
The Warriors have been protective of Jett, who has attracted plenty of interest due to his surname.
The Warriors were delighted for him at full-time.
“I thought he looked like he belonged,” co-captain Mitch Barnett said. “He defended really well. [Knights winger Greg] Marzhew is not easy to handle. Even their back-rower [Francis Manuleleua] has been causing havoc on his edge. Jett held his gloves up. He’ll only get better each time he takes the field.”
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga said: “I think he went well, he played his role; he’ll be proud and his family will be proud. When you’re sitting at home in years to come and you look back at your debut, it’s a win, so he’ll be happy.”
Cleary may play again next week now Webster has the opportunity to rest a few of his main men knowing it will not impact the club’s chances of hosting a final in week one of the play-offs. Webster was giving little away.
The Knights will also play finals, but the loss to the Warriors proved costly. Representative prop Jacob Saifiti was sent off in the 12th minute and may not play again this year after a high shot on Luke Laulilii.
Laulilii switched to the Warriors mid-season from Wests Tigers, but his first game for his new club ended early after he suffered a category-one head knock.
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The Knights have the bye next week, so any ban for Saifiti would take effect once the finals begin. Coach Justin Holbrook joked and hoped the “sin bin” was a sufficient punishment. Manuleleua also failed to make it to half-time because of a shoulder injury.
The Knights raced to a 16-0 lead, and even though the home side stormed back and kicked clear early in the second half, the visitors refused to surrender and were brave.
Marzhew’s second-half try was entertaining after he kicked ahead for himself, only for the ball to ricochet off the head of Taine Tuaupiki and Ali Leiataua’s leg before slamming back in to the winger’s chest for a four-pointer.
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