Ivan Cleary has dismissed suggestions that his youngest son Jett could be the downfall of the Panthers as the side look to block out a hostile welcome to Auckland and keep their premiership dynasty alive.
Penrith’s glory-laden run will go on the line in Saturday’s elimination final against a Warriors side that will be helped by Jett Cleary.
The 20-year-old playmaker, who plays in the NSW Cup for the Warriors, will mimic his brother Nathan’s style in opposed sessions this week.
However, his father has laughed at the idea that Jett could influence the outcome of the match this weekend.
‘He doesn’t know [Penrith’s plans],’ Ivan said.
‘He shouldn’t be [family first], he will be doing his job this week for his club and that’s how it should be. I think it’s a fun part of the week, he’s got his own game to plan for.
Ivan Cleary has rejected suggestions that his son Jett (pictured back) could be the downfall of the Panthers when they take on the Warriors this weekend
Jett Cleary, who plays in the NSW Cup for the Warriors, will mimic his brother Nathan’s style in opposed sessions this week
‘As long as he does his job for his team, that’s the main thing.’
The Warriors side will contain former Panthers prop James Fisher-Harris, but Cleary isn’t too concerned about the intimidating front-rower.
‘”Fish” is pretty simple-minded and we know exactly what we’ll get, we’ll have to play well. I’m not (scared of him) in the box, I’m just worried about eggs, not “Fish”,’ Cleary said.
A post on a Warriors supporter Facebook page in recent days urged the Kiwi club’s fans to give the Panthers a raucous reception and put the four-time defending premiers off their game.
‘Fireworks, burnouts and screaming outside the hotel is highly recommended,’ the post read, before calling for Warriors supporters to ‘bring eggs into the game and egg the panther (sic) coach box’.
The Warriors have been keen to stress the page has no official link to the club.
But Cleary, a former Warriors player and coach, took it in good humour.
‘I’ve some experience with the Warriors fan base, they’re a good-natured lot and very passionate,’ Cleary said.
Ivan laughed at the idea that Jett could influence the outcome of the elimination final, saying he doesn’t know any of the side’s intel
Penrith are chasing a fifth straight premiership under Cleary
‘That actually happened to us a couple of years ago in 2022.
‘We were staying in Parramatta before the prelim and Parra beat the Cowboys up in North Queensland and we were pretty much kept up all night.
‘That one worked out.’
As his side go pursue a fifth straight premiership with potentially four weeks of sudden-death football, Cleary has left no room for sentiment.
Winger Tom Jenkins, whose return to the NRL after being cut by Newcastle has been one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 season, has been dropped for Paul Alamoti.
‘That (telling him he’s dropped) is not a fun part of the job,’ Cleary said.
‘It’s one of those things around finals time, you can’t pick everyone.
‘Tom’s had an amazing year, one of the greatest stories of our season, he’ll be ready when he’s needed.”
Penrith will also be without dependable hooker Mitch Kenny, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Luke Sommerton.
Kenny’s bone-rattling defence has been a big factor in Penrith completing a remarkable turnaround from the start of the season to keep alive their dream of a fifth straight premiership.
Penrith were last on the ladder after a round-12 defeat to eventual wooden spooners Newcastle, a loss Cleary pinpoints as a turning point in the Panthers’ rise up the ladder to finish the regular season in seventh.
‘We were just so disgusted with how it was going,’ Cleary said.
‘We had to be real with ourselves, and the boys, to their credit, took it from there.
‘We didn’t like where we were, and there was only one way to fix it up, and that was to go and do something about it.
‘We were probably getting sucked into a vortex of self-pity.
‘We turned things around, got on a bit of a roll … and here we are.’
