LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Jett Cleary recently revealed his decision to leave the Panthers and sign with the New Zealand Warriors, causing him to separate from his brother Nathan and father Ivan, who is also the coach at Penrith.
Despite being a Penrith junior, Jett decided to take a different path by joining the Warriors on a three-year deal.
While fans had hoped to see him play alongside his brother in the Panthers' halves, Jett made the choice to forge his own identity and pursue his own success.
The 19-year-old had a taste of top-level rugby league when he played in the Warriors' trial game against Cronulla last month.
However, it is uncertain if he has what it takes to become an NRL player, with the likelihood of spending the 2025 season in reserve grade.
At one point, Jett was seen as a potential replacement for Jarome Luai as the Panthers' five-eighth, but he ultimately decided to pursue a different opportunity with the Warriors.
In a recent interview with TV network 1News in Auckland, Jett explained his reasons for leaving his family behind to join the Warriors.
He expressed his desire to make a name for himself independently and not rely on his family's success.
Jett highlighted the special connection he has with the Warriors, having been born in Auckland and lived there until the age of 7 when his family moved back to Australia in 2012.
"Obviously, there's Nathan and dad and they've got their own thing going in Penrith.
I could've easily stayed there and rode what they're doing now because they are pretty successful, but I thought this was a good opportunity to step out of the limelight a bit and do it my own way and try succeed on my own," Jett said.
His decision to join the Warriors reflects his ambition to carve out his own path in the rugby league world and prove himself on his own terms.