Ivan Cleary

2022 - 10 - 2

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Sporting News AU"

'This moment in time and this team won't stay together': Bittersweet ... (Sporting News AU)

A proud and emotional Ivan Cleary has paid tribute to his players and staff across the Penrith organisation after the Panthers enjoyed a history-making day.

“I’m very lucky and certainly blessed to be their coach. The boys were unbelievable.” Yet, Cleary was well aware this would count for nothing if they failed to turn their dominance into currency during the grand final. His assistants Andrew Webster and Camron Ciraldo will both leave to take up positions as head coaches at the Warriors and Bulldogs, respectively. The coach revealed he’d been more emotional than usual entering into his side’s third grand final in a row. It’s hard to put that into words,” Cleary said post-match after Penrith had produced a masterclass against Parramatta to claim their second-straight premiership in the NRL.

'Team won't stay together': Panthers get job done before key ... (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary admits he has been overwhelmed by emotion at the thought that his premiership-winning team is about to be broken up.

I just thought what we were doing, moving from one play to the next, was good to be a part of.” I’m lucky to be a part of this team. They know how to play, we’ve worked out over the grand finals over the last couple of years, we’ve learnt a bit. “Considering everything on the line [it was],” he said. “I think it’s because of this moment in time. Cleary admitted he was concerned they may not receive a fitting farewell before the decider.

NRL grand final: Ivan Cleary 'sad' at break-up of champion Penrith ... (Stuff.co.nz)

Coach Ivan Cleary has revealed he felt sad about the impending break-up of his Penrith squad and coaching staff after securing a second-straight NRL title.

Cleary 'sad' at break-up of Panthers side (The Singleton Argus)

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has admitted to feeling "sad" in the build-up to the Panthers' grand final victory...

"We have a lot of people that are in pathways and a lot of that who have worked so hard and don't get any credit." "We have to be able to do that. "He's had an incredible season, we won't be able to replace him." "There were some quiet moments on my own and a little bit in front of the boys. Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has admitted to feeling "sad" in the build-up to the Panthers' grand final victory as he faced up to the impending break-up of his squad and coaching staff. "I got a bit emotional yesterday and I don't even know why," Cleary said on Sunday.

'Sad': Emotional reality of Penrith's big win (NEWS.com.au)

Two premierships in two years from three grand finals is dynasty stuff from Penrith, but it won't look the same in 2023. 2 min read.

“ Cleary said the loss of Koroisau, the heartbeat of the team and Dally M hooker of the year, would be huge. But in the NRL change is inevitable and departures both on the field and off it of key players and even some personnel made for an emotional realisation for Cleary.

'Never done anything like that': How genius Cleary triggered title ... (Fox Sports)

'Never done anything like that': How genius Cleary triggered title charge with $2bn Hollywood hit.

“We had a little mid-year camp where we went and watched the movie and drew inspiration from a couple of the scenes. The creativity of the staff to just engage us as a crew and a team to give us that image of bringing it to a dogfight. That’s a product of what happened on the weekend, four grades all taking it out. Almost every week there was something brought up about it, going back to the movie. We reflected on it quite often in the back-end of the year. It’s sort of been a theme since we came out of mid-year camp and we just took it into every game and never took a backwards step. He [Ivan Cleary] talked about the dogfight in the movie and we kind of made that relatable to our style of footy. It just kept the finals flowing and it was like a new chapter for us going into the finals. Just little things like that. It was pretty awesome. The Panthers did just that. Last year, it was all about climbing and then conquering Mt Everest.

'I've never seen Ivan crying like that': Leniu reveals Cleary tears in ... (The Roar)

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…

I’m happy we get to leave them on a good note. I played like it was my last game,” said the Samoa international. “I went to the independent doctor on Tuesday. 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 just wanted today to go well.” “I got a bit emotional yesterday, I don’t even know why.