It has been a big week for Cleary, who will remain at the foot of the mountains until the end of 2019 on a new deal that was announced on Thursday. The teenager was already on the books until the end of 2018, but the upgrade includes his immediate ascent into the top 25 squad. The Australian Schoolboys captain is tipped to make his first-grade debut at AAMI Park as part of a reshuffled Panthers outfit. While Tyrone Peachey has been named at five-eighth, it's expected Cleary will spend time in the halves alongside Jamie Soward.

Cleary has been training with the top squad in recent weeks and officials have been waiting for the right time to blood him. The sacking of James Segeyaro – who has paid a heavy price for his infamous night out with Corey Norman and Junior Paulo, for which he received a consorting notice for associating with underworld figures – has opened up a playmaking spot in the Penrith squad.

There were fears Cleary, one of the most promising young halves in the game, could be lost to the Panthers after his father was sacked as head coach last year. However, the St Dominic's College product's decision to commit long term underlines his determination to make his own name in rugby league.

The Panthers celebrated a new tradition in promoting Cleary to the top squad. Coach Anthony Griffin presented the junior Blues playmaker with a plaque bearing his name, which has subsequently been hung on a new locker alongside the other top 25 players at the club. It is the first time a local junior has been afforded the honour since the opening of the new $22 million Panthers rugby league academy.

Cleary, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his father, has been a mainstay of representative teams while coming through the ranks. However, he faces the biggest assignment of his career in taking on the ladder-leading Storm.

Penrith had held off on announcing the contract extensions of Cleary and fellow young gun James Fisher-Harris until after the opening State-of-Origin encounter, although the news was overshadowed by revelations NSW police were investigating at least two NRL matches – and up to six players – over potential match-fixing concerns.

Fisher-Harris relocated from his native New Zealand to join the Panthers in 2013, made his first-grade debut in round one and has been a mainstay of the team up until he injured his hand.

Having come from a small town of about 150 people, it was initially a difficult transition for the Junior Kiwi. However, he now feels at home at the foot of the mountains and is hoping to add to his tally of 10 NRL games on his return from the rehab group.

"I'm grateful for the club to bring me over in New Zealand and I'm keen to stay here," Fisher-Harris said.

"I thought I would debut next year but Hook [Griffin] gave me a chance, he trusted me to keep playing. Hopefully I will be back in four or five weeks."