Ivan Cleary

Ivan Cleary(born 1 March 1971) is an Australian professionalrugby leaguecoach who is thehead coachof thePenrith Panthersin theNational Rugby League(NRL) and a former professionalrugby leaguefootballer who played as afullbackandcentrein the 1990s and 2000s.

Ivan Cleary

Personal information
Born	(1971-03-01)1 March 1971 Sydney, New South Wales,Australia
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Playing information
Position	Fullback,Centre
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1992–93 Manly Sea Eagles 15 8 50 0 132 1994–95 North Sydney 37 15 5 0 70 1996–99 Sydney City Roosters 81 29 303 0 722 2000–02 New Zealand Warriors 53 12 195 1 439 Total 186 64 553 1 1363
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2006–11 New Zealand Warriors 154 77 3 74 50 2012–15 Penrith Panthers 98 44 0 54 45 2017–18 Wests Tigers 43 18 0 25 42 2019– Penrith Panthers 157 120 1 36 76 Total 452 259 4 189 57 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2015 Prime Minister's XIII 1 1 0 0 100
Source: As of End of 2024 season
Relatives	Nathan Cleary(son) Jason Death(brother-in-law) Josh Stuart(brother-in-law)

He is a former head coach of theWests TigersandNew Zealand Warriors,as well as the four time NRL Premiership winning head coach of thePenrith Panthers,who led the Panthers to four straight premierships in the2021,2022,2023and2024 NRL Grand Finalswith thePenrith Panthers,becoming the first coach to do so in the NRL era. As a player, Cleary was agoal-kickingfullbackwho played club football in Australia and New Zealand, setting a new record for most points scored in a season during the1998 NRL Premiership.He is the father of Panthers' co-captainNathan Cleary.

Early life

Cleary was born inSydney,New South Wales,Australia.He grew up in the SydneyNorthern Beaches' suburb ofBeacon Hilland attended Beacon Hill High School.

Playing career

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Originally a goal-kicking fullback, Cleary was aManly-Warringah Sea Eaglesjunior before moving to play Reserve Grade with the Sea Eagles in 1992 and 1993. He started his first grade career with the Manly-Warringah club in1992playing two games before getting his chance after the team's first choice fullbackMatthew Ridgesuffered a season-ending injury in mid-1993.Cleary filled the fullback spot and also proved himself an accurate goal-kicker, filling in for Ridge on both counts and helping Manly to 4th place and a finals berth where they were bundled out 4–16 by theBrisbane Broncosin the Qualifying Final.

In his 15 first grade games for Manly, Cleary scored eight tries and kicked 50 goals (from 71 attempts for 70.4%) for a total of 132 points.

North Sydney Bears

With Ridge set to return in1994Cleary signed with Manly's local rivals theNorth Sydney Bearsfor 1994 and1995 seasonswhere he mainly played in the centres due to the emergence of fullbackMatt Seers.He also was the team's second choice goal kicker behindJason Taylorand in 37 games for the Bears he scored 15 tries but kicked only 5 goals (from 6 attempts) for a total of 70 points.

Sydney Roosters

Cleary began playing for theSydney City Roostersfrom the1996 ARL seasonthrough to the1999 NRL seasonmaking 81 appearances for the tri-colours. In 1998, Cleary was theNRL's top point scorer with 284 points.

New Zealand Warriors

Cleary signed with theNew Zealand Warriorsfor the2000 NRL seasonbefore the fullback retired at the end of the2002 NRL seasonfollowing the club's2002 NRL Grand Finalloss against theSydney Roosters.

Coaching career

After leaving the Warriors, Cleary originally intended to join theHuddersfield Giantsin theSuper Leaguebut instead retired to take up a coaching opportunity with theSydney Roosters.He was Sydney'sNSWRL Premier Leaguehead coach in 2003 and 2004, winning the latter premiership.

New Zealand Warriors

Cleary returned to New Zealand as assistant coach for the 2005 season. In September 2005, Cleary was appointed as the club's head coach.

Cleary coached New Zealand to the2011 NRL Grand Finalagainst Manly; they lost 24–10. In the following weeks, Cleary announced he was leaving to joinPenrith.

Penrith Panthers

Early season injuries and some poor form from thePenrith Pantherssaw a tough start to Cleary's return to Sydney with Penrith sitting 15th after Round 19 of the2012 NRL seasonwith a 4–13 record. In 2014, Cleary took Penrith to the preliminary final before losing toCanterbury.He was named Dally M coach of the year in the same season. He was released the following season after avoiding the wooden spoon with a final round victory overNewcastle.

Wests Tigers

He was appointed as the coach of theWests Tigerson 3 April 2017.In Round 22 of the 2017 NRL Season, Cleary coached theWests Tigersand coached against his son,Nathan Clearywho was playing for thePenrith Panthersin a losing effort by 28–14.

In the 2018 season, Cleary guided Wests to a ninth-placed finish narrowly missing out on a finals spot. On 11 August 2018 Cleary released a prepared statement ending speculation that he would leave the Wests Tigers to coach Penrith. Cleary said: "I advised the Panthers of my ongoing contract status with the Wests Tigers....I intend to honour this contract".On 28 October 2018, following pressure from Cleary, theWests Tigersreleased Cleary from the final two years of his contract. Cleary also sent a departing text message to the Tigers playing group saying "G'day boys I hope this finds you well and enjoying your time off, I was writing to you in the hope of beating the press.. to let you know that I will no longer be your coach at Wests Tigers." This is an extremely uncomfortable situation for me as I have genuine fondness for the club, and I have loved coaching you all.. I understand that this situation has caused some pain for people that I care about, along with putting the club in an awkward situation... I do not feel good about this. "I would have preferred to do this in person but time and circumstances have made that impossible. I hope we meet again soon and I wish you all the very best in the future. You have my number and I am always open for a chat if you wish."

Return to the Penrith Panthers

On 29 October 2018, thePenrith Panthersconfirmed the return of Ivan Cleary as head coach, on a 5-year deal, beginning in 2019.Ivan linked with his sonNathan Clearyand began his second stint as head coach at the Penrith Panthers.

Cleary's second spell in charge at Penrith got off to a bad start with the club winning only 2 of their first 10 matches leaving the team bottom of the table. Penrith would then go on to win their next 7 games in a row leaving them just outside the finals places. In a must win game against theSydney Roostersin round 24, Penrith lost the match 22–6 at theSydney Cricket Groundwhich meant that the club would miss out on the finals series for the first time since 2015.

In round 8 of the2020 NRL season,Cleary coached Penrith to a 19–12 victory over theWests Tigers.Following the full time siren, angry Wests fans shouted abuse at Cleary who was inside the coaches box. Cleary proceeded to wave and blow kisses at the Wests Tigers supporters.

Following Penrith's 28–12 round 13 victory over Canberra in the2020 NRL season,Cleary questioned the integrity of the referees in the post match press conference by saying he felt Canberra were managed back into the game by the officials. Cleary was later fined $20,000 for his comments.

In round 19 of the2020 NRL season,Cleary guided Penrith to victory over North Queensland 32–12 at theQueensland Country Bank Stadium.The win was Penrith's 14th in a row and also meant they had claimed the 2020Minor Premiership,only the third time Penrith had done this in their history. On 19 October, four years since being sacked as being head coach of the Panthers, Cleary was named Dally M Coach of the Year for the second time for his efforts of Penrith's 2020 season.

Cleary guided Penrith to the2020 NRL Grand Finalon the back of a 17-game unbeaten streak. In the final, Penrith's opponents were Melbourne who raced out to a 22–0 lead. Penrith fought their way back into the game during the second half but lost the grand final 26–20.

In 2021, Cleary guided the Penrith club to a comfortable 2nd place, on 44 points. This placing them in the qualifying final againstSouth Sydney,in which Penrith were defeated pushing them back into a knock out final the next week. After defeating both theParramatta Eelsand theMelbourne Storm,Penrith qualified for the2021 NRL Grand Finalbeing held atSuncorp Stadiumon 3 October 2021. The Penrith club, with the guidance of Cleary, won the NRL Grand Final againstSouth Sydney,14–12. This made Cleary a premiership winning coach for the first time after coaching over 370 NRL games.

In 2022, Cleary won his second NRL Premiership in a row as coach of Penrith when he guided his side to a 28–12 win over theParramatta Eelsin what was considered by many experts to be one of the best all round performances from a NRL side in a Grand Final.

In the2023 NRL season,Cleary guided Penrith to the minor premiership and also their third straight premiership as they defeated Brisbane 26–24 in the2023 NRL Grand Final.Penrith became the first team since Parramatta in the early 1980s to win three consecutive premierships. On 24 February 2024, Penrith would lose the2024 World Club Challengefinal againstWigan16–12 at theDW Stadiumin controversial circumstances.

In2024,he took the Penrith club to their fifth consecutive Grand Final to face Melbourne in a rematch of the 2020 Grand Final. Despite a 23rd minute try to Melbourne'sHarry Grant,Penrith answered back whenSunia Turuvascored four minutes later, before eventualClive Churchill Medalist,Liam Martinput Penrith ahead on the stroke of half time. Melbourne would be left scoreless in the second-half to reverse the result of 2020 and hand Penrith and Cleary their fourth Premiership in a row. The first side to do so sinceSt. Georgein1966,as well as extending their record in the NRL era.

Statistics

Ivan Cleary – coaching results by season
Team	Year	Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %	Finals
NZL	2006	24	12	0	12	50%	Finished 10th (out of 15)
NZL	2007	26	13	1	12	52%	Lost 2007 NRL Semi Final vNorth Queensland Cowboys49–12
NZL	2008	27	15	0	12	56%	Lost 2008 NRL Preliminary Final vManly-Warringah Sea Eagles32–6
NZL	2009	24	7	2	15	33%	Finished 14th (out of 16)
NZL	2010	25	14	0	11	56%	Lost 2010 NRL Qualifying Final vGold Coast Titans28–16
NZL	2011	28	16	0	12	57%	Lost 2011 NRL Grand Final vManly-Warringah Sea Eagles24–10
NZL		154	77	3	74	51%
PEN	2012	24	8	0	16	33%	Finished 15th (out of 16)
PEN	2013	24	11	0	13	46%	Finished 10th (out of 16)
PEN	2014	26	16	0	10	62%	Lost 2014 NRL Preliminary Final vCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs18–12
PEN	2015	24	9	0	15	38%	Finished 11th (out of 16)
WST	2017	19	6	0	13	32%	Finished 14th (out of 16)
WST	2018	24	12	0	12	50%	Finished 9th (out of 16)
WST		43	18	0	25	42%
PEN	2019	24	11	0	13	46%	Finished 10th (out of 16)
PEN	2020	23	20	1	2	89%	Lost 2020 NRL Grand Final vMelbourne Storm26–20
PEN	2021	28	24	0	4	88%	Won 2021 NRL Grand Final vSouth Sydney Rabbitohs14–12
PEN	2022	27	23	0	4	88%	Won 2022 NRL Grand Final vParramatta Eels28–12
PEN	2023	27	21	0	6	78%	Won 2023 NRL Grand Final vBrisbane Broncos26–24
PEN	2024	27	20	0	7	74%	Won 2024 NRL Grand Final vMelbourne Storm14–6
PEN		254	163	1	90	64%
Career		451	258	4	189	57%

Coaching Honours

NZ Warriors

• NRL Grand Final:2011

Penrith Panthers

• NRL Premiership:2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• NRL Minor Premiership:2020, 2022, 2023
• NRL Grand Final:2020

Individual

• Dally M Coach of the Year:2014, 2020

External links

• Penrith Panthers profile
• Wests Tigers profile
• Profile,yesterdayshero.com.au
• Profile,rugbyleague.co.nz