Updated September 1, 2026 — 11:50am, first published August 31, 2026 — 10:30pm
Nathan Cleary insisted last month he had little appetite to join the New Zealand Warriors for fear of blocking the path of his younger brother Jett.
Since then, Jett has made his NRL debut and been granted a release to join Penrith next year. So what does that mean for his famous brother?
Nathan Cleary with the Brad Fittler Medal. NRL Imagery Cleary laughed when reminded of those comments at the Brad Fittler Medal ceremony on Monday night, before admitting the chance to play with his younger sibling next year would factor in his decision on whether to sign a contract extension with the panthers.
The 28-year-old Cleary watched Jett’s debut for the Warriors from the grandstands in Auckland on Sunday afternoon before returning to Sydney to collect his second Brad Fittler Medal.
The decision to race to New Zealand was so last-minute that Nathan ran out of time to buy a suit and had to borrow one from his father and Penrith coach Ivan for Monday night’s awards ceremony at The Star.
There is every chance Cleary will add a first Dally M Medal to the two awards he has already snared this year – the Brad Fittler Medal for NSW’s best player and the Wally Lewis Medal for being the top player in the Origin series.
Nathan Cleary celebrates NSW’s series win with girlfriend Mary Fowle
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