He played for Melbourne's NYC team from 2009 to 2011 and was a part of their 2009 NYC premiership winning team.[4]
McLean playing for the Storm-Sharks combined team in 2013
2013
On 10 June 2013, McLean re-signed with the Melbourne side for a further three years, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2016 season.[5] In Round 11 of the 2013 NRL season, McLean made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm against the Sydney Roosters at the SFS from the interchange bench in the clubs 26–18 win.[6] In Round 23 against the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium, McLean scored his first career try in Melbourne's 23–10 win.[7] McLean finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 14 matches and scoring a try for the Melbourne outfit.
2014
In Round 3 of the 2014 NRL season the Melbourne club played the Newcastle Knights at a home game at AAMI Park in Melbourne's 28–20 win, shortly before half-time, McLean was involved in a 3-man tackle with team mates Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, where Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon subsequently suffered fractures to C4 and C5 vertebrae and was admitted to Melbourne's The Alfred Hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. Early reports were that McKinnon was unlikely to walk again. McLean expressed his sympathies to McKinnon through a Facebook post that read "Best wishes to Alex McKinnon, I genuinely hope you're alright and have a safe recovery". On 2 April, McLean appeared before the NRL Judiciary. McLean's lawyer Nick Ghabar, urged the panel to remove any emotion from the case and to exercise their common sense as former players, to accept the tackle was an accident, however, his client was given a seven-match suspension. A devastated McLean could not bear to look at numerous replays of the tackle.[8][9][10] McLean returned to the Melbourne side in Round 14 against the Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium, playing in the Storm's 24–20 win.[11] He finished off the 2014 season having played in 16 matches and scoring three tries for Melbourne.[12]
2015
On 24 March 2015, McLean re-signed with Melbourne for a further three years, keeping him at the club to the end of the 2018 season.[13] McLean finished off the 2015 season having played in 15 matches for the Melbourne club.[14]
On 3 October 2017, McLean was rewarded for his big season by being selected in the 24-man Kangaroos squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[24] McLean played in all 6 matches of the tournament including starting at prop in the Kangaroos 6–0 gritty win against England in the World Cup Final at Suncorp Stadium.[25]
On 8 March 2019, McLean was named vice-captain of the North Queensland side.[33] He played 22 games for the club in 2019, starting all 22 at prop. In Round 4, he played his 100th NRL game in North Queensland's 12–30 loss to the Canberra Raiders.[34] In Round 13, he sustained a hamstring injury in North Queensland's loss to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. The injury dashed his hopes of replacing the injured David Klemmer in the New South Wales Game 2 side. He returned to the North Queensland line up in Round 15, missing just one game.[35] On 18 September, he won the Cowboys' 2019 Players' Player award at the club's presentation night.[36]
2020
McLean played 15 games for the North Queensland club in 2020, starting all 15 at prop, and captaining the side four times. He missed five games due to a calf injury.[37]
2022
On 19 June, McLean was selected by New South Wales for game two of the 2022 State of Origin series in the extended squad.[38]
McLean was then selected by coach Brad Fittler to make his State of Origin debut as starting prop for game 3. With just days remaining before the series decider, McLean was ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury.[39]
McLean played 22 matches for North Queensland in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished third on the table and qualified for the finals. He played in both finals matches including their preliminary final loss to Parramatta.[40]
2023
McLean played 22 matches for North Queensland in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.[41]
2024
He played 22 games for North Queensland in the 2024 NRL season as they finished 5th on the table. McLean played in both finals games for North Queensland as they were eliminated in the second week by Cronulla.[42] On 15 November, the Cowboys announced that McLean had signed a one year extension with the club.[43]
