Will Jett Cleary’s return to Penrith help Nathan stay? We asked the man himself
Nathan Cleary insisted last month he had little appetite to join the New Zealand Warriors for fear of blocking the path of his younger brother Jett.
Since then, Jett has made his NRL debut and been granted a release to join Penrith next year. So what does that mean for his famous brother?
Cleary laughed when reminded of those comments at the Brad Fittler Medal ceremony on Monday night, before admitting the chance to play with his younger sibling next year would factor in his decision on whether to sign a contract extension with the panthers.
The 28-year-old Cleary watched Jett’s debut for the Warriors from the grandstands in Auckland on Sunday afternoon before returning to Sydney to collect his second Brad Fittler Medal.
The decision to race to New Zealand was so last-minute that Nathan ran out of time to buy a suit and had to borrow one from his father and Penrith coach Ivan for Monday night’s awards ceremony at The Star.
There is every chance Cleary will add a first Dally M Medal to the two awards he has already snared this year – the Brad Fittler Medal for NSW’s best player and the Wally Lewis Medal for being the top player in the Origin series.
Nathan Cleary celebrates NSW’s series win with girlfriend Mary Fowler at Suncorp Stadium in July.
Nathan Cleary celebrates NSW’s series win with girlfriend Mary Fowler at Suncorp Stadium in July.Getty Images
Cleary and Penrith are a strong chance of winning a fifth premiership in six years over the next six weeks – but there is even greater interest in where the star halfback will decide to play from 2028 onwards.
“It’s all the outside world that has made it feel like it’s a rushed decision, but it’s not something I want to rush,” Cleary said.
“It’s a big decision, and I feel like one thing has rolled into another. The Origin period was so hectic, and when we came out of it, we [Penrith] weren’t playing our best footy. My mind has just been elsewhere.
“I have another whole year of Penrith anyway, and it’s always felt like it’s so far away, but I guess it is creeping up a bit now. I’m pretty patient with it.”
Cleary and Penrith are unlikely to thrash out a deal in the immediate future due to the finals being just over a week away.
As for the impact of Jett’s arrival on his own plans, Nathan said: “He might take my spot after Sunday. He was letting me know about it, as well. We’ll see what happens. That’s something to weigh up as well.
“There is that [appeal to play together]. I never even considered him playing first grade, let alone train alongside him and play alongside him.
“That’s an exciting prospect. It’s still a long way to go, even for him, just to play regular first grade. We’ll see what happens.”
Cleary joined his parents Ivan and Bec, and sisters Indi and Milaya, to watch Jett help the Warriors defeat a 12-man Newcastle.
“It doesn’t even feel real Jett played NRL – I always think of him as my younger brother and this young kid,” Nathan Cleary said.
“Watching him Sunday in front of a full crowd, in the NRL, playing well and holding his own, I was just so proud of him.
“I don’t think he ever knew this day would come. It’s been tough for him at times, obviously with me and dad in his life and always being compared to us. He’s taken it all in his stride. I’m so glad it went well for him.
The cool thing now is he has proven himself, and ‘Webby’ [coach Andrew Webster] will have full faith in him if anything was to happen [and he gets a call-up].
“He doesn’t mind getting on the chirp, so it was good to see him get smashed and have that ‘welcome to first grade’ moment. He grew up getting smashed by me and my sisters.”
With two individual awards already secured due to his efforts for NSW during their Origin series victory, Cleary now has the chance to repeat James Tedesco’s amazing run in 2019 when he steered the Blues to Origin glory, won the Wally Lewis, Brad Fittler and Dally M medals, and also helped the Roosters to the premiership.
As for completing the Wally Lewis, Brad Fittler and Dally M treble, Cleary said: “It would be nice, but it’s not a driving factor for me. I’d rather look back at the memories of playing and the wins we had, including Origin series wins. I’m honoured to receive them, but individual awards are not something I’ll look back on that much.”
Back-rower Yasmin Meakes was named NSW’s Women’s Origin Player of the Series. The 28-year-old finished the series with three tries, three try assists, two line breaks, five tackle busts and 60 average running metres.
Rugged forward Hudson Young collected his first True Blue Award on Monday night, a gong awarded to the player who best embodies the team’s values of trust, resilience, and culture.
NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden praised outgoing coach Daley and took one final aim at the “ridiculous criticism that came his way this year, and [that Daley] protected his team from it”.
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