Jett Cleary could be one of the major beneficiaries of a situation at the Warriors that could see the NRL club lose two of its starting halves after next season. Superstar No.7 Luke Metcalf is contracted until the end of 2026, but is set to test the open market despite being offered a lucrative two-year extension to remain with the Warriors.
Metcalf is currently on around $550,000 per season but could realistically fetch a salary closer to $1 million a year, following his impressive form in 2025 and the dearth of quality halfbacks on the market. The Warriors’ No.7 is already being heavily linked with the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Perth Bears, who enter the NRL in 2027.
Jett Cleary (R) could be given even more opportunities to impress at the Warriors, amid reports Andrew Webster’s (L) side is in danger of losing its starting halves. Pic: Getty
His Warriors halves partner, Chanel Harris-Tavita, is also currently off contract at the end of next season, meaning he’ll be a free agent from November 1 as well. The situation with Metcalf and Harris-Tavita presents the Warriors with a future halves dilemma, but it could present the young Cleary with a massive opportunity going forward.
The 20-year-old brother of Penrith champion Nathan Cleary, Jett already gained valuable experience this year as a member of the Warriors’ NSW Cup-winning squad. Jett featured 13 times in reserve grade for the Warriors in 2025 and is set to be promoted to the club’s top-30 roster for 2027.
However, the potential exits of Metcalf or Harris-Tevita (or both) could accelerate Cleary’s development and offer him earlier-than-expected opportunities to impress at a higher level. Cleary already made a successful jump from Jersey Flegg to NSW Cup this year after Metcalf’s season-ending ACL injury saw Tanah Boyd replace the Warriors’ halfback and Jett promoted to reserve grade.
Jett Cleary impressed after stepping up to NSW Cup
The 20-year-old was the starting halfback in almost every NSW Cup game from Round 17 and the Warriors won 7 of the 10 matches Jett started at No.7 (with one draw). But the youngster ultimately lost his starting spot when the Warriors’ first-grade side were eliminated from the NRL finals and Tanah Boyd dropped back to NSW Cup, having served as Metcalf’s replacement.
Cleary was consigned to a bench role for both the Warriors’ grand final qualifier and their victory in the decider. And Warriors NSW Cup coach David Tangata-Toa explained at the time that it simply came down to Boyd’s vast experience.
Jett Cleary in action for the Warriors. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
“It’s been really cool to witness Jett progress through the grades,” Tangata-Toa told SEN radio at the time. “When you give a young kid an opportunity you think they’re ready, but you just don’t know until they actually play. The pleasing thing was he came up and played really, really well.
“We’re where we are because of what he did in the back-end of the season. Obviously we’ve had Tanah Boyd come back down and Jett has had to shift back to the bench. But it’s very cool to see the experience he’s received and he’ll be better for it next year.”
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But Cleary could get even more chances at NSW Cup level in 2026 and may even cement himself as a starting half in the reserve grade comp. And with the futures of Metcalf and Harris-Tevita far from certain beyond 2026, a potentially NRL debut might not be as far off as originally thought.