NRL

Jett Cleary has reportedly asked the New Zealand Warriors for a release from the final year of his contract as he looks to return to Penrith for the 2027 NRL season according to the Daily Telegraph.

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The 21-year-old has yet to make his NRL debut but has impressed during his time in the NSW Cup, developing into one of the Warriors’ more promising young halves since leaving the Panthers system.

Cleary is contracted to the Warriors through the end of 2027, but is now understood to want a return to his former club for what could be a unique season for the Cleary family.

His father Ivan will coach Penrith for one final year in 2027 before handing the reins to Peter Wallace, while older brother Nathan is also contracted to the Panthers for next season.

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The opportunity to spend a season playing alongside Nathan and under their father is understood to be a major factor behind Jett’s request.

It would also give Penrith another young halves option at a time when the club is preparing for significant change in its spine, with Jack Cole departing for the Perth Bears and competition for the five-eighth role alongside Nathan already developing with five-eighth Blaize Talagi seemingly out of favour having been dropped recently.

The Warriors are yet to agree to the request and are expected to seek compensation for releasing a player they originally signed from Penrith on a three-year deal.

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That could come in the form of a financial settlement or potentially a player swap as the two clubs negotiate Cleary’s future.

For the Warriors, losing Cleary would be another setback in their efforts to build depth around their halves, particularly after Luke Metcalf and Luke Hanson also secured moves away from Auckland.

However, the club still has Te Maire Martin, Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita available for 2027 and may ultimately decide that allowing Cleary to return home is the best outcome for all parties.

The potential move would also add another fascinating layer to Nathan’s own future, with the Panthers superstar still yet to decide what his long-term future will look like beyond 2027.

For now, the immediate focus is on whether the Warriors will agree to release Jett and allow the youngest Cleary to return to the club where his rugby league journey began.

If the deal is completed, 2027 could see all three members of the Cleary family together at Penrith for what would be a remarkable final season for Ivan at the helm.

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