Warriors coach Andrew Webster said they were gutted to be losing Cleary but understood the circumstances.
“We didn’t want to lose Jett,” Webster said. “We love him, and think the world of him.
“We feel like his journey is different to everyone else’s, as in it may take a little bit longer, but [we’re] super impressed with his progress.
“Such a young half and running the show in New South Wales Cup for a young man is a great experience. We obviously had the opportunity not to release him, but we chose to and we wish him all the best.”
While Jett Cleary is yet to make his NRL debut, he has established himself as a key member of the Warriors’ New South Wales 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 19 NSW Cup games this season, scoring six tries and providing nine try assists.
He was set to become part of the Warriors’ top-30 squad next season.
Cleary’s departure would leave the Warriors with just three halves with NRL experience contracted to their top-30 squad for next season in Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin.
Boyd, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and Harris-Tavita are both contracted until the end of 2029, while Martin is 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, where he has scored 12 tries in 11 games.
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.
They also re-signed Noah Jensen after the young playmaker made a successful return to the U21s following a bone marrow transplant last year.
With Cleary, the Warriors are also losing Luke Metcalf and Luke Hanson, who are off to the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Gold Coast Titans respectively.
With Boyd, Martin and Metcalf injured this weekend, the Warriors have named Harris-Tavita and Hanson the halves for this weekend’s match against the Rabbitohs, with Cleary on the extended bench.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.