Cleary to leave Warriors for Panthers

Ivan Cleary will leave the Warriors at the end of the NRL season to take on the head coaching position at Penrith for the following three years.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah announced on Wednesday morning that despite Cleary still having a year to run on his contract, both parties had agreed on an early release.

New Panthers general manager of football Phil Gould pursued Cleary after Matt Elliott was told two months ago he wouldn’t be retained at the club for next season.

Scurrah revealed the Warriors initially closed the door on the possibility of granting Cleary an early release, but changed their mind after deciding they couldn’t guarantee him the same long-term job security that Penrith were offering.

“While we were discussing the potential to extend Ivan’s contract over the last week, it became apparent to both parties that Ivan had a chance to secure his long-term coaching career with Penrith immediately and that we were not in a position at the moment to guarantee a similar term,” Scurrah said.

“Given the circumstances, it also became clear to both of us that it wouldn’t have been in anyone’s interests for Ivan to fulfil the last year of his contract with the Warriors when he had an immediate opportunity offering him significant security elsewhere.”

Cleary, who finished his playing career with the Warriors, holds the record as the club’s longest-serving NRL coach.

He said he was grateful to the Warriors for the opportunity they had given him when he was handed the first grade coaching reigns in 2006.

“This club means a lot to me and always will, having finished my playing career here and then having the chance to coach at first-grade level,” he said.

“I feel we’re now in great shape on and off the field and we’re highly-respected throughout the NRL.

“I’m grateful I’ve now been given the opportunity to take on a new challenge but before then there’s much to be done.

“After today’s announcement, my total focus will be on working together with the staff and players to ensure the Warriors are the best they can be for the rest of this season. I won’t be talking about anything beyond the 2011 season.”

Scurrah said both parties were keen to make an announcement as soon as possible, with the Warriors still in finals contention.

Cleary’s appointment rules out Penrith caretaker Steve Georgallis from assuming the role fulltime next season – despite Georgallis recording a win in his first NRL assignment against the Cowboys last week.

Cleary scored 439 points in 53 matches for the Warriors from 2000-2002 and finished his career with the 2002 grand final against the Sydney Roosters.

He’ll bring up his 150th game in charge of the club in the last round of the regular season against North Queensland at Mount Smart Stadium.

Gould coached Cleary at the Sydney Roosters back in the 1990s.

Gould said Cleary’s recruitment was a major boost for the rebuilding Panthers and thanked the Warriors for their handling of the matter.

“This is a wonderful result for the club and marks the beginning of a new era for the Penrith Panthers,” Gould said in a statement.

“Ivan has enjoyed an outstanding career in rugby league, proving himself to be a player and coach of the highest standards. Ivan’s character, professionalism and experience made him the perfect candidate for this important position at the Panthers.”

Former Leeds Rhinos and New Zealand Test coach Brian McClennan and Warriors assistant Tony Iro are frontrunners to replace Cleary at the Auckland club.