Jett Cleary has been promoted from Jersey Flegg to NSW Cup in the Warriors' lower grades, and is now just one step away from making his NRL debut. The younger brother of Panthers star Nathan Cleary, 20-year-old Jett was named at halfback in the Warriors' NSW Cup team on Tuesday.

With Luke Metcalf out for the season with an ACL injury, Tannah Boyd has stepped up to NRL level to play No.7. And with Te Maire Martin named on the bench in the first-grade side, it's opened up two positions in the halves in reserve grade.

Jett Cleary (L) is forging his own path at the Warriors after splitting with Nathan and Ivan (R) at the Panthers. Image: Getty

Cleary has played the majority of the season in Jersey Flegg - the Under-21 competition. But with the Warriors forced to shuffle their halves he's been handed a huge opportunity to show he belongs. Jett has played two games in NSW Cup so far this year, and didn't miss a beat.

In his most recent game at the higher level in Round 17, the young halfback steered the Warriors to a 26-4 victory over Manly for the Warriors' 11th-straight win. Cleary will now be tasked with trying to continue the Warriors' winning streak in NSW Cup, and there's some impressive history on the line.

The record for most-consecutive wins in NSW Cup is held by Parramatta (2005) and Cronulla (2013), who both won 13 on the trot. Cleary will be partnered by Luke Hansen in the halves - another Penrith junior.

Jett Cleary played an NRL trial game for the Warriors earlier this year, and has now been promoted to NSW Cup. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Why Jett Cleary left Penrith for the Warriors

Cleary came through the Panthers system as a youngster, and Penrith fans thought he was destined to partner his brother in the halves one day. But he dropped a bombshell last year when he signed a three-year deal with the Warriors.

He later explained he wants to forge his own path away from the pressure and expectation at Penrith. Nathan and father Ivan have won four-straight premierships with the Panthers, but Jett is keen to show he can make it on his own.

"Obviously, there's Nathan and dad and they've got their own thing going in Penrith," he told TV network 1News in Auckland earlier this year. "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 with brother Nathan and family after the NRL grand final in 2021. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

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."

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Panthers fans are still holding out hope he'll return to Penrith when his three-year deal with the Warriors expires. He'll come off contract at the end of 2027 - the same time that Nathan and Ivan will both become free agents if they don't re-sign with Penrith.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/jett-cleary-takes-massive-step-towards-nrl-debut-after-decision-to-split-with-nathan-and-ivan-204108708.html