Jett Cleary thwarts Taylan May as young gun takes big step out of brother's shadow

Yahoo

16 hours ago

Jett Cleary didn't miss a beat on Sunday as the Warriors' NSW Cup extended their winning streak to 12. The younger brother of Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary, Jett has been handed a massive opportunity to shine at the Warriors after a season-ending injury for NRL halfback Luke Metcalf.
Tanah Boyd has been tasked with stepping up from NSW Cup to NRL level, which in turn has seen Cleary promoted from Jersey Flegg (Under-21s) to NSW Cup. The 20-year-old played his third NSW Cup game of the season on Saturday, and showed he belongs in the higher level.
Starting at halfback, Jett steered his side to a 22-14 victory over the Magpies - the club's 12th on the trot in reserve grade. The first-placed Warriors will play the seventh-placed Bears in Round 20 with a chance to create history for the club.
The record for most-consecutive wins in NSW Cup is jointly held by Parramatta (2005) and Cronulla (2013), who both won 13 in a row. With a historic streak on the line, Cleary showed no signs of nerves on Sunday.
He had a hand in three of the Warriors' four tries, including a brilliant off-load close to the ground and a stunning moment on the fourth try in which he spread the ball wide by kicking it off the ground rather than picking it up. But his finest moment came in defence late in the game.
Taylan May, who is attempting to make a comeback with the Wests Tigers after being dumped by the Panthers, scored a hat-trick in a stellar performance that would have impressed first-grade coach Benji Marshall. And Cleary denied him a try assist with a desperate play in the dying stages.
May made a break and then chipped over the top of the fullback, but Cleary came from the clouds to knock the ball dead when it looked like the Magpies were certain to score. May completed his hat-trick after the ensuing line drop-out, but Cleary's desperation caught the eye of keen observers.
The 20-year-old is trying to make a name for himself away from the pressure and weight of expectation at Penrith. A Panthers junior, Jett split from brother Nathan and father Ivan when he signed a three-year deal with the Warriors last year. He said he's keen to forge his own path and doesn't want it to look like he's riding on the coat-tails of his family members.
With Metcalf out for the season, Cleary now has an opportunity to show he belongs at the higher level of NSW Cup. Boyd has been brilliant in reserve-grade in 2025, and continued his stellar form at NRL level on Saturday.
In his first opportunity in the Warriors' No.7 jersey in first-grade, the veteran starred as the Kiwi team ended a two-game losing streak with a 34-14 victory over the Wests Tigers. Boyd joined the Warriors this year after six seasons with the Titans, but had to bide his time in the reserves.
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He kicked well and had a key try assist on Saturday. "He's been frustrated inside, but he hasn't showed it externally, not once," coach Andrew Webster said.
"I just said, 'That's a real test to your character, that the team aren't seeing you kicking stones and the team are actually seeing you working hard, and you're making the rest of the club better'. He was a big part of why the NSW Cup team have won 12 in a row, then plays a big part when he gets his opportunity tonight, so just really proud of his character more than anything else."