After leading Ukraine to European Championship glory and steering the Warriors to the top of the NRL ladder, could Jett Cleary's next step up be on the World Cup stage with the Kiwis?
The 21 year-old brother of Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary, Jett was born in Auckland and spent his first six years in New Zealand before moving to Australia when father Ivan took charge of the Panthers in 2012.
He returned to New Zealand in 2024 to join the Warriors and made an impressive NRL debut on Sunday as his mother and father, Rebecca and Ivan, and siblings Nathan, Indi and Milaya watched on with 26,000 fans at Go Media Stadium.
Warriors v Knights – Round 26, 2026
Producing three try assists in the 42-36 defeat of the Knights, Cleary was one of five Warriors nominated for the RLWC26 Team of the Week and will go head to head with Nathan in the halves poll.
With Tannah Boyd out for the season and Luke Metcalf, Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita battling injuries, Cleary could play for the Warriors in the finals.
And while it may seem a huge step up to the World Cup, it is surely only a matter of time before Kiwis coach Stacey Jones - who presented him with his debut jersey - asks Jett about his international allegiance.
Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes, Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima and Martin are likely to be the Kiwis halves contenders after Newcastle's Dylan Brown was ruled out with an ACL.
However, Cleary has already shown what he can do on the international stage after leading Ukraine to big wins over Italy and Greece to gain first place in Group C of the 2025 Euros.
The results earned Ukraine promotion to the Group B Euros and coupled with a 56-12 win against Netherlands catapulted the Tridents into the Top 10 nations in the latest IRL World Rankings.
Cleary qualifies for Ukraine through his maternal grandmother Maree, who was born in a German POW camp during World War II, and for New Zealand through birth.
Asked previously about the possibility of playing for the Kiwis, Cleary told NRL.com it wasn't something he had thought about but the time is now getting closer to when he will have to.
Samoa-eligible players tries of the week
Meanwhile, Nathan is one of six Panthers players nominated for the World Cup Team of the Week after they also secured a Top Two play-off spot and a home final with Friday night's 24-10 defeat of the Bulldogs.
The Dolphins have the highest representation of nominees, with fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, winger Selwyn Cobbo, centres Herbie Farnworth and Jack Bostock, halves Isaiya Katoa and Nikorima, hooker Jeremy Marshall-King and secondrowers Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Max Plath all in contention after their 26-12 defeat of the Roosters.
Tonga-eligible players tries of the week
Each week, fans vote for their RLWC26 Team of the Week from players nominated after the previous weekend's NRL and Super League matches who are eligible for the 10 nations contesting Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Among the players nominated for the RLWC2026 Team of the Week are:
- Kiwis fullback candidate Kalyn Ponga (Knights), centre Casey McLean (Panthers), five-eighth Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), halfback Jahrome Hughes (Storm), props James Fisher-Harris (Warriors) and Naufahu Whyte (Roosters), lock Erin Clark (Warriors). Warriors secondrower Jacob Laban is also eligible for New Zealand, while hooker Wayde Egan is also considering whether to change his eligibility from Australia.
- Toa Samoa fullback contenders Sua Faalogo (Storm) and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), wingers Siulagi Tumalatu-Brown (Storm) and Greg Marzhew (Knights), playmakers Jarome Luai (Wests Tigers) and Ronald Volkman (Eels), secondrowers Jacob Laban (Warriors) and Heilum Luki (Cowboys), and prop Junior Paulo (Eels). Titans prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is yet to confirm if he will play for Samoa or Australia.
- England centre Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), playmaker Jake Connor (Leeds), winger Matty Ashton (Warrington), prop Cameron Smith (Leeds), and lock Harry Rushton (Huddersfield).
- Tonga playmaker Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), winger Sione Katoa (Sharks), centres Rob Toia (Roosters) and Will Penisini (Eels), props Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), Fonua Pole (Wests Tigers), Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm) and Loko Pasifiki Tonga (Dragons), and secondrowers David Fifita (Rabbitohs), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles) and Salesi Foketi (Roosters). Rabbitohs prop Keaon Koloamatangi played for the Kangaroos in last year's Ashes series but is also eligible for Tonga and represented his heritage at the last World Cup in 2022.
- Lebanon winger Jason Saab (Sea Eagles).
- France centre Romeo Tropis and secondrower Mathieu Jussaume (both Toulouse).
- Papua New Guinea winger Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs).
Vote for the World Cup Team of the Week
