Young Kiwi signed from Roosters for two years
Exciting teenaged centre Kahu Capper has been lured back home from the Sydney Roosters after signing a two-year contract with the One New Zealand Warriors.
The 18-year-old Taranaki-raised Capper will experience preseason training with the NRL squad before starting the 2025 season with the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) and Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) sides.
In January he captained the victorious Aotearoa Māori under-18 team at the Pasifika Youth Cup in Pukekohe when he was named the MVP for the tournament.
“Kahu’s a quality young footballer with huge potential and desire,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“We’ve been watching his development for some time and met up with him recently. He’s keen to come home to be near his family and to further his rugby league career with the Warriors.”
Capper has been in the Roosters’ system the last three years playing for their Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) side while attending renowned rugby union nursery Waverley College.
He has mixed rugby league with playing rugby union for Waverley College which has led to call-ups for the New South Wales Waratahs 16s and 18s representative sides.
Born in Esperance in Western Australia on February 9, 2006, Capper started playing rugby league for the Warriors – the South West Warriors, that is – before his family returned to Taranaki where he played for the Western Suburbs Tigers.
He attended Spotswood College in New Plymouth before being scouted by the Roosters.
Halfback Cleary signed for three years
The Cleary name is returning to the One New Zealand Warriors with confirmation Penrith Panthers halfback Jett Cleary has signed a three-year contract with the club from next season.
The 19-year-old brings impressive pedigree as the son of former Warriors and current three-time premiership-winning Penrith coach Ivan and brother of Panthers, New South Wales and Kangaroos halfback Nathan (26).
The youngest Cleary has forged his own path through the famous rugby league nursery St Dominic’s College in Penrith and the Panthers’ development teams in the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) and the SG Ball Cup (under-19).
His signing comes just a week after the One New Zealand Warriors and Penrith combined to pave the way for Kiwi captain James Fisher-Harris to return home to join the Warriors from next season.
“It’s an exciting time for us to be able to bring a player of Jett’s quality into our pathways system from next season,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
The Cleary family has the strongest links with our club through Ivan’s time with us and it’s a special thrill to sign Jett and have the Cleary name back with us.
“The Cleary family has the strongest links with our club through Ivan’s time with us and it’s a special thrill to sign Jett and have the Cleary name back with us.
“We’re again truly grateful for the cooperation from Penrith and Ivan in helping to make this possible.
Cleary played for the Panthers at Harold Matthews Cup level in 2021 and 2022 before going up to the SG Ball Cup last year and again this season.
“Jett has a big future in front of him and we’re excited to give him the chance to develop in our system,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“While he was only young when he left New Zealand to go back to Australia, Jett has the benefit of strong family ties with the club and with Auckland as well.
‘He brings wonderful pedigree with him as well as a great understanding of the game after coming through Penrith’s fantastic pathways.”
Jett Cleary was born in Auckland on April 2, 2005, just as Ivan was beginning his role as an assistant coach with the One New Zealand Warriors before becoming head coach in 2006.
As well as playing for Penrith’s Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams, Cleary also represented the New South Wales Combined Catholic Colleges at the national schoolboys championships last year.
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