His clubs as a player include the Huddersfield Giants, St Helens, the Warrington Wolves, the Wigan Warriors,[3] Hull F.C.

Gleeson made his début for Great Britain against Australia in Sydney in July 2002, also participating in the test series against New Zealand at the end of the season.

At the end of his first season with St. Helens Gleeson played as a centre and scored a try in the 2002 Super League Grand Final victory against the Bradford Bulls.

Having won Super League VI, St. Helens contested the 2003 World Club Challenge against the 2002 NRL Premiers, the Sydney Roosters, he played as a centre in Saints' 0-38 defeat.

He opened the 2004's Super League IX for St. Helens, and won the Challenge Cup against the Wigan Warriors at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

He and teammate Sean Long were later involved in a betting scandal that saw both players fined and suspended for the last four months of the 2004 Super League IX.

[6] Gleeson was selected in the Great Britain team to compete in the end of season 2004 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament.

[12] He recovered in time for the 2011 World Club Challenge fixture against St George Illawarra Dragons, but was ineffective and again had to be withdrawn during the match because of the injury.

[13] Before the match, the Manchester Evening News reported that, in December 2010, Gleeson had contacted the police alleging he was the victim of blackmail but had decided to drop the charge.

He made a try scoring debut in the 36–18 defeat of city rivals Hull Kingston Rovers in the Good Friday derby at the KC Stadium.