With no Four Nations tournament scheduled this year, this was shaping as one of the more uneventful off-seasons in recent NRL history.
But on Monday afternoon, the Penrith Panthers dropped a bombshell by announcing the sacking of head coach Ivan Cleary with one season remaining on his contract.
Former Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Griffin looks set to take over.
Cleary becomes the third coach to be given his marching orders this year after Rick Stone (Newcastle Knights) and Geoff Toovey (Manly Sea Eagles), having presided over a poor if injury-ravaged season for the Panthers.
It comes 12 months after he took the club to within one match of an improbable grand final berth, when they were stopped in their tracks by the Canterbury Bulldogs in the preliminary final.
On the back of their stunning surge in 2014, a lot was to be expected from the Panthers in the season just passed, but after victories over the Bulldogs and Gold Coast Titans in the first two rounds, it all started to unravel.
Injuries to key players such as Matt Moylan, Brent Kite, Peter Wallace and Jamie Soward, among others, brought about the swift downfall of the club to the point where entering the final round of the regular season, they were second last on the ladder, only ahead of the Newcastle Knights – whom they were to play in that round – on percentage.
Eventually the Panthers avoided what would have been their third wooden spoon since the turn of the millennium, winning 30-12 at home. The result saw them finish 11th on the ladder with nine wins and a points differential of negative 78.
A last-placed finish for the club would have been the worst single-season reversal since the Gold Coast Titans crashed from home preliminary finalists in 2010 to wooden spooners the following year.
This year was the third in four seasons the Panthers failed to make the finals under Cleary, and the ninth in the last 11 years dating back to 2004.
Given the club’s pre-season expectations, this season was a failure, resulting in Cleary’s dismissal.
Griffin’s impending appointment sees him return to NRL coaching 12 months after he was sacked as Broncos coach in favour of Wayne Bennett, who took the club to this year’s grand final.
He resumes his coaching career with a winning percentage of just 53 per cent, the low figure caused by the Broncos’ worst-ever season in 2013. He did, however, take the club to a preliminary final in 2011 before losing to eventual premiers the Sea Eagles.
As for the deposed Cleary, reports that he would return to the New Zealand Warriors, whom he took to that grand final four seasons ago, have been rubbished, with his old club having already finalised their coaching panel for 2016.
It appears the former Roosters and Warriors fullback will pause his coaching career having taken the Warriors to the finals four times during his six-year tenure there. The Warriors would have also made the finals in 2006, Cleary’s first season as coach, had they not been stripped of four premiership points before the start of the season for salary cap breaches.
In 2011, Cleary was released from his Warriors’ contract one year early to take up a three-year contract at the Panthers, but not before guiding the NRL’s perennial underachievers to the grand final, which they lost to the Sea Eagles 24-10.
His tenure at Penrith got off to a rocky start, with injuries and poor form seeing them finish second-last ahead of only the Parramatta Eels. That same year, representative centre Michael Jennings left the club for the Roosters, and featured in their premiership-winning team 12 months later.
Following improvement in 2013, Cleary’s contract was extended to the end of 2016, and it seemed the five-year plan general manager Phil Gould had of making the Panthers one of the biggest clubs in the NRL was on track.
Now we wait and see how the club attacks its newest era under soon-to-be coach Griffin. Can the club put its horror 2015 season, ruined by injuries, behind them and once again become a contender?
pete bloor
Guest
Okay you've changed your tune a little there. You said they are one of the 4 best rosters I asked would 12 teams swap rosters and you started a fan coloured comparison to the two finalists. You list one as a rep player (not the one with the most rep games) and say the other is irrelevant. The bench isn't the team that's just a ridiculous comment as it means no starting player is relevant. We'll agree to disagree on guys like Kahu and Oates, and I hate the broncos, but I'll take far superior halves over the three quarters as I'm sure most front offices wouldwould.
damo
Guest
Channel 9 has what, 2 games a week where Gould is a commentator ? The rest are on Fox Sports or are concurrent games where he isn't present. I get it, familiarity breeds contempt, it happens everywhere, but questioning the knowledge of the man & inferring that he doesn't know what he is doing etc is going beyond saying that you don't enjoy his commentary.
The eye
Guest
@pb..'other teams have far superior halves'..yes,but in saying that Jamies kicking game,his one and probably only positive,is only bettered by JT ...Sharks and Dogs would kill for that.. your 2nd post is pushing the exaggeration button a little firmly..didnt suggest 'gun' or 'rubbish'..Wal's a good on field manager of the kids these days..and as for the bronx '16 backline outside the halves..its bland at best..reed copley kahu oates.. not taking away from their super season..just trying to illustrate that hook is getting a better roster than some will have you believe.. 'bench',is the team these days
pete bloor
Guest
Really I challenged you to pick a rep team made up of panthers and cowboys? When did I do that?
The eye
Guest
you did Cowboy,my hats off to the club definately team..but if we're picking a rep team from the individuals as challenged by pete bloor from the 2 clubs..linnett and oneill over Whare and Idress ? Feldt and Winter. over Mansour and DW.? Coote better than Moylan ? Nah nah and nah
pete bloor
Guest
I'd take a healthy best 17 at Souths over the Panthers right now too.
pete bloor
Guest
Its a good team but I think if you need to go down the route of suggesting that Wallace is some rep gun whilst saying the broncos and cows back liens are rubbish at 1-5 then you've probably strayed of the path of objectivity
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Top 4 roster? They are behind North Qld, Brisbane, Melbourne, Roosters, Bulldogs and arguably NZ. I'd say even Manly's is better
pete bloor
Guest
So the other teams have far superior halves and the panthers forwards might make their bench?
Kingcowboy
Guest
Be careful eye, don't be talking ill of the 2015 premiers, we did it as a team!!!
The eye
Guest
Moylan..Mansour,Whare,Idress,DW,Sowie,Wallace..all reps (frankly not sure about Soward..Moylan caused Coote to be punted) Seggie,Carty,Merrin,Taylor,Peach,Mckendry,CG.. Cows backline is basically JT and MM.....Broncos.. Hunt and Milford Which Panther forward wouldnt make the 17 of either of the G.Finalist ?
yupidu
Guest
The combination of alcohol + fluoride slowly damages the brain. I see nutters wherever I look, here down under.
pete bloor
Guest
He was their second most successful coach, went to the finals 4 out of 6 years (and one miss was due to cap breaches) and only had one sub 50% year. Judging a coach though just by wins and losses without any reference to the quality of their team is a bit flawed though.
ferret
Guest
Fair enough, all good points. The only other point I would make is that either Gould was wrong when picking Cleary for the job or is wrong now for sacking him (especially after such a terrible run of injuries this year).
pete bloor
Guest
Top 4 roster? Really. They've got a shot at the top 4, as there are so many unknowns but are you honestly sitting there and going there are 12 teams that would switch rosters with Penrith?
Kaks
Roar Guru
Then let him know more about Rugby League than anyone without forcing me to listen to his nauseating rants and constant mentioning of the "old days" during a game.
The eye
Guest
Interesting to read comments about Wayne B. from A.Mcullouch and A. Glenn during the semis when the media was over lauding the chosen one..they said 'there wasn't too much wrong with the joint when Wayne arrived..' as in whats all the fuss about.. Hook didnt have the extravagance of Milford or Blair putting on plays that ultimately got them into the GF or the class of Darius at fullback to help him like Wayne did.. Penrith have a top 4 roster without any doubt..their backs are super..and the pack are a combination of clever and workhorse..Hook only has to get the guy the Tigers used in keeping Tedesco sound on board to show his wares as a top coach..
Parrafan
Guest
We are still the bastion of Rugby League. All our talent just gets poached by the bigger clubs who can afford greater TPA's that are of course negotiated at arms length...
damo
Guest
Except Phil Gould isn't just a commentator who can walk away at the end of each weekend regardless of what happens & think job well done. He's responsible for the entire operation of the Panthers RLC & regardless of what any of us armchair critics may say, he has a far greater investment in the game than any of us, at every level, & has far greater influence to go along with it. It's easy to bag out someone out, with no retort, but I bet Phil Gould could ad lib, ad nauseum, about the structure required to achieve NRL success, build a club up & keep it humming along, with all the inherent aspects of junior football, local club structure, administration both club & referees/judiciary, fund raising, volunteers, government investment at every level, quite honestly the list goes on so far it would never end. Phil Gould knows more about rugby league than anyone, (nearly full stop right there, but I'll add this), who has ever written a word in earnest, let alone in contempt, on this or any other "blog" anywhere anytime.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
One has a winning record under 50% and a finals appearance record also under 50% The other is a premiership winning coach with multiple clubs, been at the forefront of the game for over 30 years, most succesful NSW Origin coach of all time and respected by many in the game One knows a bit more about the game then the other Don't let your opinion of the commentator cloud your opinion on this move