Oh, brother: Jett set to help Warriors counter Nathan

Jett Cleary has cheekily asked his brother Nathan for tips as he prepares to fill the role of the Panthers superstar in opposed training sessions for the Warriors ahead of Saturday’s elimination final at Go Media Stadium.

Jett, 20, joined the Warriors this season in a bid to forge his own career away from Nathan and father Ivan, Penrith’s four-times premiership winning coach, and is closing in on an NRL debut after starring in Jersey Flegg and the NSW Cup.

Injured Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett even suggested Jett may be named in the club’s extended squad on Tuesday, but his main involvement is likely to be playing the role of Nathan in attack during defensive practice.

“Me and dad were actually speaking about it,” Nathan said.

He is going to have to run as me this week, I think, in the opposed sessions, so that is pretty funny.

“He was asking me for any tips to try to give to them, and I said, ‘just worry about your own game’.

"I am actually pumped for him that he has got an opportunity to be around first graders over there and for me to go and play over there again is pretty cool.”

With Jett and prop James Fisher-Harris - a key member of Penrith's four consecutive grand final wins - moving across the Tasman this season, the Warriors are well equipped to understand why the Panthers are so successful.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster was also an assistant to Ivan Cleary when the Panthers won their first two premierships in 2021 and 2022.

Barnett said the Warriors would be calling on Jett to help them prepare for the Panthers and predicted he could eventually play opposite Nathan in the NRL.

“It is obviously pretty funny. Jett might be in the 22 this week, we will see what happens, but we will definitely be spotting him [for tips],” Barnett told 94ddz.com.  

“He is really good, he is great for the group, he is a young fellow learning his trade and doing really well at it.

“He has got the work ethic of Nathan and family ties to the club, so it is great to have him at the Warriors. He is a great kid, and I am looking forward to seeing how he goes in the future.”

Jett was born in Auckland while Nathan first played rugby league for Mt Albert Lions when Ivan played for the Warriors (2000-2002) and later coached the club (2006 -2011).

However, Nathan has only played against the Warriors in New Zealand three times in his NRL career, and not since 2018.

Cleary will return to the ground where he once acted as a ballboy for the Warriors, as the Panthers attempt to kick start their bid to win a fifth consecutive premiership and become the first team to triumph in a grand final from outside the top four.

“I think it is just an exciting prospect … but to be honest I don’t think we are even thinking too much about trying to win the comp at the moment,” Cleary said.

“We obviously have a tough task going over to New Zealand and versing the Warriors in front of a sold-out crowd over there.

“Our full focus is on that and just trying to play our best footy over there. I don’t think I have played over there since 2018, so I am really looking forward to getting back over there.

“Obviously it’s going to be a finals atmosphere, it will be sold out and I think they have some of the best fans in the game, so I am definitely looking forward to the atmosphere and the challenge in front of us.”