Jett Cleary made a memorable home debut for the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday, helping secure a 46-32 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Go Media Stadium in Auckland. The 21-year-old halfback’s performance propelled the Warriors to the top of the NRL ladder, guaranteeing them a home final in the postseason.

Cleary, the latest member of the notable Cleary rugby league family, played in front of his father Ivan, brother Nathan, and other family members, including his mother Bec and sisters Indi and Milaya. Ivan Cleary, who played for the Warriors 26 years ago and coached the team from 2006 to 2011, now witnesses his son continue the family’s legacy with the franchise. This marked the second occasion that a father-son duo has represented the Warriors.

Despite acknowledging pre-match nerves, Jett displayed poise and confidence throughout the game. He led the attack with sharp ball handling, running the ball with intent, and showed kicking accuracy reminiscent of his Premiership-winning brother Nathan. Cleary was instrumental in the creation of four tries, three stemming from his precise kicking game. He demonstrated resilience in the face of Newcastle’s aggressive defense, notably bouncing back quickly after a heavy tackle and remaining composed under targeted pressure.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster praised Cleary’s ability to handle the Knights’ focused tactics. “He was awesome,” Webster said, noting that Newcastle repeatedly instructed their players to run at Cleary. “He stood up to it, and the boys backed him up at the right moments. He made a couple of big plays that really got us going.”

The Warriors’ victory lifted them above the Penrith Panthers to claim first place on the NRL ladder. Cleary is set to join Penrith next season, having secured a release from the Warriors, raising anticipation about a potential Cleary brothers halves combination at the Panthers.

For Newcastle, the defeat was compounded by the early send-off of Jacob Saifiti in the 13th minute for “direct very forceful contact with the shoulder” to the head of Luke Lauluilli. Knights coach Justin Holbrook declined to comment on the decision but welcomed the upcoming bye, describing it as “just what the doctor ordered” to regroup his side. Holbrook focused on his team’s resilience despite playing most of the match with one fewer player.