Ivan Cleary back at the foot of the mountains after being unceremoniously and patronisingly sacked by Phil Gould at the end of 2015?
A week ago, any sane rugby league pundit or fan would have baulked at this notion. But being a NRL coach is a ruthless and unforgiving profession. Now that Anthony Griffin has been asked to vacate his contract at the Penrith Panthers, speculation is red hot that Ivan Cleary will unite with son Nathan and force the Wests Tigers to release him.
Despite Ivan’s now infamous ‘get on the bus’ cry and his reputation as a loyal, dedicated coach, speculation is rife that he will return to the club and general manager who let him go after being named Dally M Coach of the Year a mere 12 months prior. Penrith have the facilities, finances and roster to achieve premiership glory but most importantly, they have Nathan Cleary.
Young Nathan, a State of Origin winner about to enter the third finals series of his three-season long NRL career, is the reason why many respected journalists and industry insiders believe loyal Ivan will seek to leave the Tigers after undergoing a massive rebuild since becoming head coach.
The rebuild isn’t over, but the proverbial damage is already done. Players like Russell Packer were lured to the club for the chance to work with Cleary. Cleary has been widely praised for his commitment to rebuilding the club where instability has run rife since Tim Sheens exit in 2012.
Is Ivan Cleary headed west from Wests? (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Now Nathan becomes the unsuspecting, innocent pawn in a battle he didn’t ask to be a part of. Neither did Ivan, but alas.
Nathan was stated repeatedly over the past six months that he wasn’t been thinking about, nor we will he entertain, speculation of his playing future post-2019 until his 21st birthday in November.
A mature and measured response from one of the most promising talents in the game whose future is constantly being analysed, criticised and speculated on in public forums. There is no bond quite like that of father and son, and I’m sure this would be the impetus for Ivan to even consider asking the Tigers for a release.
But I don’t know how a self-respecting coach who has asked for and received the dedication of players and fans alike as his team continues to rebuild from disaster, could contemplate leaving it all behind just to coach his son.
Nathan Cleary is 20 years old. Ivan is only 47. Both have ample time to continue playing and coaching, and don’t need to rush into an agreement in fear that they’ll never be able to collaborate professionally.
Ivan Cleary is a very intelligent and serious coach. I struggle to fathom how he could ever be comfortable walking out on the Tigers before his contract ends, let alone back to Penrith after he was undermined and blindsided.
The arrogance of the Phil Gould and the Panthers to approach Ivan of all current head coaches – let alone attempt to induce breach of contract from any head coach – is staggering.
Phil Gould has denied he’s been pulling the strings at Penrith. (Photo: Tony Feder/Getty Images)
On NRL 360 tonight, Luke Lewis, who played for Penrith during their 2003 premiership win, summed it up best. Why would you want to return to a club and general manager who doubted your ability and sacked you for not being good enough while you are at a club who believes in what you are doing?
In this instance, family ties are not enough. The duty of a coach to fans, players, stakeholders and management are wide-ranging and crucial. Phil Gould was patronising and egotistical in his assessment of Cleary’s sacking in 2015, and shouldn’t be rewarded with Ivan’s skill and expertise because father and son want to work together.
To manipulate the allure of family to rectify his own mistakes with Cleary and Griffin is a serious blight on his integrity and reputation.
Phil Gould offered an apology to the fans of Manly after the rumour mill suggested current head and assistant coaches Trent Barrett and John Cartwright were being poached to replace the out-of-favour Griffin. He owes one to the Wests Tigers also.
Loyalty and integrity and pillars of the game and should be motivating factors behind every decision made by coaches, players and management alike.
Cleary is gifted and an extremely skilled coach, and going back to Penrith would be insulting not only to the Tigers players and fans who have readily welcomed him into their community, but to himself.
After all, what happened to the bus?
Jacko
Guest
i guess you meant the Champ All Blacks...Glad to see you judge people on where they are born....there is a word for that and if I use the word I get moderated
Stuart McLennan
Expert
Unless they change their name to Furner
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Father/son coaching is a double edged sword. It is just as likely to break a relationship or stunt a career.
Jacko
Guest
Hating on someone because of where they were born is showing such integrity
Renegade
Roar Guru
Fair point around the fatherly aspect. But let’s not pretend that the entire club won’t be under pressure.... the amount of pressure on Ivan and Nathan will be greater than anyone else, except Gus. Doesn’t really create a team environment with the focus clearly on a few individuals to deliver.... I can’t see them winning a premiership if this pans out, in fact I think they’ll regress.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Spot on DP (and nice article Nicole). I'd add that while this is bound to be a bit disruptive for the Tigers playing group, it could actually work out very much in the Tigers' favour. Cleary will go to Panthers next year - for all the reasons you state. But the Tigers will use their ethical and legal advantage to extract maximum compensation out of Penrith. That will be in the order of $1 million - and most likely also a valuable player. Tigers will end up with a stronger roster and a better coach. While Cleary has done a fine job starting the rebuild at Tigers this season, he has yet to demonstrate in his coaching career that he's able to take a team to a premiership. A coach like Madge Maguire would bring the added steel they need to go to the next level. And Maguire has a point to prove. Meanwhile Panthers will have a weaker roster and a coach who is unlikely to bring them the premiership they are selling thier soul to buy.
Last Straw
Guest
I know what he was thinking. I know exactly what he was thinking! Strap yourself in for this one, it’s going to go right down to the wire. This is why rugby league is the greatest game on the planet. This is why I am am the greatest goose on the planet and why most people would be overjoyed if I was not a commentator on channel nine, despite me being the best and only person who can save rugby league. But I’ll tell you, this will result in Penrith and Wests both losing this one, because I don’t know exactly what I wasn’t thinking.....
Albo
Guest
100% . And there lies Ivan's integrity to his son !
Wayne Turner
Guest
for sure. I hope this all happens.
Wayne Turner
Guest
In Gould's case a badly ran business.He loves wasting other's money.
Davico
Roar Pro
Nice article Nicole. Seems like this is one big mess. Tigers should be aiming for large $$$'s and a couple of young players IF they decide to let Ivan off the hook. Feel sorry for the Tigers players who have followed Ivan there mostly!
KingCowboy
Guest
Ha ha, a Kiwi lecturing someone on integrity, I have heard it all now! Stick to the All Black's champ.
DP Schaefer
Guest
Good article Nicole, If the latest mail has any legs, Ivan Cleary has already shot himself in the foot at Tigers players by being the first at the Panther's meeting to suggest he could go there next year. Methinks Ivan has a major bromance with his son (and no problem with that) and sees this as the best years with his son who will, in near future, move out of home and live elsewhere. His (Nathan) career as a top half is at a high point and coach careers are commonly very short. So, 'let me spend these years with my son now, at Panthers with his mates and great facilities do my best to set him up as a player and person for life as he'll be out of my everyday life soon and let me take the most money I can while people think I'm a fantastic coach and before my star fades and f%^k what anyone thinks'. I can't agree with it but I'm not in his boots. Whatever happens now, damage is done at Penrith, Griffith's life and the Tiger's playing squad. The situation at Cronulla shows it's hard to be the head coach of a club where your son is a promising young buck. And Gus is spending too much time learning from Easts about fixing your team problems by throwing money.
Adam
Roar Guru
What if he doesn't want to go? And next pick too? All said and done I know it's a business so I don't mind how things have gone. My question is, do players really want to play on a team that has a father and son duo? I know I wouldn't. Where does accountability start when Nathan Cleary has a bad run of form? I know he is talented but he's not a peerless talent.
pot stirrer
Guest
To answer all the questions about why would Cleary go back? MONEY TALKS as far as what will happen, id put my money on Bennet going to the Panthers for 2 years until Ivan Clearys contract is finished. And then Bennet could retire possibly after winning a GF.
Jewboy
Guest
Maybe Ivan is willing to put his head and reputation on the chopping block rather than disrupting Nathan's career by trying to get him to another club. IMO I think it would be a big ask for Nathan to leave a team that he has come through the grades with and has the potential to win a premiership with in the next couple of year. He would then have to be accepted into the roster of the other team with the brand of 'coaches son' on him puting a lot more pressure on him than he would be under if Ivan moved to the Panthers ....where Ivan would have most of the pressure on him.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Welcome aboard Nicole, looking forward to your future articles
Adam
Roar Guru
I'm not sure the Raiders need the nepotism though...
Jacko
Guest
If the son is anything like the father he will sign for another club partway thru his contract....
Jacko
Guest
Ivan has done this exact same thing to 1 club already....and it was to go to the Panthers...Cleary has no integrity...craps all over the Warriors by leaving after demanding a longer contract and more money...he is very fast gaining a reputation of not sticking at anything and of always looking for the bext big thing.....He still had a year to run on his Warriors contract when he left them in the lurch and here he is again...It shows the caracture of the man