LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Jett Cleary, the talented halfback from the New Zealand Warriors, is making strides toward an NRL debut while preparing for an international opportunity with the Ukrainian national team. At just 20 years old, he is set to participate in the European Championships this October.
In discussing his motivations for choosing to represent Ukraine, Cleary reflected on personal family connections that influenced his decision. "My cousin played and it was really cool watching him represent Ukraine, so I've been keen to play this year if there was a chance," he shared with NRL.com.
He acknowledged that his family played a significant role in his choice, particularly his brother Nathan, who encouraged him during the decision-making process. "My Nan talks about it a little bit so I thought if I had the opportunity it would be a good thing to do and I was going to play a few games last year but I had some injuries and I was still playing footy at the time for Penrith," Cleary explained.
Additionally, he noted the pride his family feels regarding their Ukrainian heritage. "My family is proud of the Ukrainian heritage and Nathan actually did convince me, and so did mum and dad, because I was sort of on the fence about it, just because of the pre-season," he said.