Ivan Cleary was reduced to tears in the pre-match meeting, such was his emotion ahead of the Panthers’ Grand Final win on Sunday.
Cleary revealed his level of emotion in the post-match press conference, telling media that he had cried to himself and then in front of the team in the build-up.
“It’s been an emotional 24 hours,” he said. “I got a bit emotional yesterday, I don’t even know why. I think it’s just because this moment in time, this team won’t stay together and it’s such a great opportunity and such an amazing season.
“I suppose I wanted it to go well on the biggest night and I couldn’t have asked for more, the boys were unbelievable.
“There were quiet moments on my own and a little bit in front of the boys. It just came over me, I don’t really know why. But I think it’s because we’ve done so well for so long, and you think anyone can win the big day and anyone can win any game. I just wanted today to go well.”
One of his charges, Spencer Leniu, said that it was a special moment for the team to see such a raw display of emotion from their coach.
“It was a funny one, I’ve never seen Ivan crying like that,” said Leniu. “To see him show his emotions in front of the boys was something special.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“Being a male, it’s hard to express your emotions like that so to see our coach open up in front of the boys enables us to express our emotions as well.
“He’s built something really special and I’m sure everyone can see that, but there’s no other feeling like it. I’ve been here since 2019 and I felt the other side of bad culture, so to see him turn it around and lead us boys to two, back to back, that’s a credit to him and the staff that help him.”
Leniu is an emotional bloke himself: he had to be held back by Panthers staff after a high shot from Taane Milne last week that saw the Souths winger sent off and the forward in serious doubt for the Grand Final as a result of a concussion.
“I’m emotional,” he said. “I play with a lot of passion. Sometimes that emotion gets the better of me and last week, my initial frustration was that I thought I would miss out on this week.
“I was pretty nervous, the most nervous I’ve ever been before any game, especially with the decision about me playing in the Grand Final in someone else’s hands.
“I went to the independent doctor on Tuesday. They told me after the game (against Souths) that I was supposed to see them on Friday so I thought I’d get some preparation in. I was pretty nervous, but I’m here now and I’m feeling like a champion.
“Ahead of the Grand Final is the most nervous that I’ve been before a game, way more than the Rabbitohs game. Everything worked out and I’ve got another ring.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Leniu played like a man who thought he wasn’t going to get the chance: he managed 98m in just 20 minutes of action.
“The game is 80 minutes and I probably get 30 of that, so whenever I go on, I give it my all. I played like it was my last game,” said the Samoa international.
“I’m proud because there’s boys leaving us next year and that was such a motivation for us to play well. I’m happy we get to leave them on a good note.
“It feels so good. All the people doubting our motivation after last year, to prove all those people wrong is such a sweet thing.”
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