Jett Cleary tipped for important new role at Warriors after double injury blow for NRL stars

Jett Cleary looks likely to take a massive new step in his journey towards the NRL after the Warriors were rocked by two key injuries in their loss to Brisbane in Round 17. Halfback Luke Metcalf suffered a devastating ACL injury that will see him miss the rest of the NRL season.

And fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad went down with a medial ligament tear and will miss the next four weeks. It means coach Andrew Webster will need to do some shuffling with his all-important spine, and it will have a flow-on effect to the lower grades.

Jett Cleary will likely get a lot more time in NSW Cup with the Warriors. Image: Anton Posa/Getty

One of Te Maire Martin or Tanah Boyd will step into Metcalf's No.7 role, and the other could fill a utility spot on the bench. Taine Tuaupiki or Moala Graham-Taufa will come into the back-line to replace Nicoll-Klokstad, although Webster could also choose to use Martin at fullback.

And that's where Cleary comes in. Martin and Boyd have spent the majority of the season as the Warriors' halves in NSW Cup - the reserve grade competition under NRL level. But if Martin and Boyd are both required in first-grade, Cleary will be the man to step up to NSW Cup level.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Luke Metcalf both went down with knee injuries. Image: AAP/Getty

The younger brother of Panthers star Nathan Cleary (and son of Penrith coach Ivan), Jett has spent the majority of the season playing Jersey Flegg for the Warriors - the Under-21 competition. Jett stepped up to NSW Cup level last weekend when Martin was on the bench for the Warriors' first-grade side and Boyd was 18th man.

Because the Warriors' first-grade was playing in a different state to their NSW Cup side, Boyd had to travel to Brisbane. It meant Cleary was promoted to reserve-grade for the second time this year, and he didn't miss a beat as the Warriors beat Manly 26-4 to extend their winning streak to 11-straight matches.

Jett Cleary in action for the Warriors in a pre-season NRL trial. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The injuries to Metcalf and Nicoll-Klokstad will likely see Cleary get a lot more game-time at NSW Cup level - an important step as he continues his development. And ditto for fellow playmaker Luke Hanson, another Penrith junior poached by the Warriors. After a bye this weekend, the Warriors' reserve-grade team will be eyeing the NSW Cup record of 13-straight wins set by Parramatta in 2005 and Cronulla in 2013.

The 20-year-old Jett is a Penrith junior like his brother, but made the staggering call to sign with the Warriors on a three-year deal last season. Back in March, Jett opened up about why he left his brother and father to sign with the Warriors, revealing he was keen to make a name for himself and not ride the coat-tails of his family members.

"Obviously, there's Nathan and dad and they've got their own thing going in Penrith," he told TV network 1News in Auckland. "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 Cleary (back) with family after Penrith's win in the 2023 NRL grand final. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

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Jett was actually born in Auckland while father Ivan was an assistant coach at the Warriors. He lived in Auckland until he was 7, before the family moved back to Australia in 2012.

"Most of the time I was in the creche in the little kids section (of the club). That was always fun," he said. "It's so weird because I used to joke with my mates and my mum that I'll go play for the Warriors one day. I always joke with mum that I kind of spoke it into existence I think, I love the Warriors and I've always wanted to play for them."

Panthers fans are convinced he'll return to Penrith to partner brother Nathan in the halves when his three-year contract expires. For the time being he'll have a golden opportunity to show what he's capable of when he steps up a level.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/jett-cleary-tipped-for-important-new-role-at-warriors-after-double-injury-blow-for-nrl-stars-030224508.html

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