They have played in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup together so now the goal for Penrith Panthers brothers Casey and Jesse McLean is to run out on the field in a NRL game side by side.
Jesse, 19, (pictured above, left) got his start in first grade in Round 26 last year against Parramatta playing fullback and again in Round 13 this year against St George Illawarra on the wing.
Casey, 18, is now waiting for that chance.
The brothers have had a taste of things to come by being on the left edge together – centre and wing – for the Panthers in NSW Cup starting in Round Nine this season with a comfortable 30-10 win over South Sydney. Jesse scored two of Penrith’s five tries.
The brothers have now had five games together in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and this week were named at centre and wing for the CABE NSW Under 19s men’s State of Origin team.
They play Queensland next Thursday (20 June) at Leichhardt Oval at 7.45pm.
“Obviously the way it happened growing up I always had that thought that I wanted to play beside my brother,” Casey told nswrl.com.au as True Blue and coach Andrew Ryan put the U19s through their paces at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence today.
“It’s a little dream come true but the next step is playing NRL together.”
Jesse said it hasn’t always been the case that the brothers, just 15 months apart, have played a lot of footy together.
“We haven’t played Rugby League together since our younger days,” he said.
“I was always playing up an age and Casey was also so we never got to play much together.
“Little Bro has set me up for a couple of tries recently so it’s been good.”
Casey said he was still coming to terms with being able to represent NSW for the first time with his brother.
“It wasn’t really in my thought process because I was always just ‘one job at a time’,” he said.
“I just tried to play the best footy I could and then I’ve got this amazing opportunity to represent my state and with Jesse.
“We just have a great combination. We can spray each other on and off the field; keep each other accountable.”
The McLean family is doubly proud, just like the Fainus last year when both Samuela and Latu played for the CABE NSW Under 19s.
“They would be proud of us no matter what happened but seeing us play together in a rep team means they’re obviously stoked,” Jesse said.
“They always support us so we’re proud of that too.”
The pair have watched the 2023 NSW-Qld Under 19s game, won by the Blues 32-14.
“It will be just who wants it more,” Jesse said on what needed to be done to retain the shield in 2024.
“Both teams will be really strong so it will be down to each of us as individuals of who wants to do that dirty work, grit their teeth and just go at it when things get tough.”
