Ivan Cleary’s reputation is on the line if he decides to quit Wests Tigers for Penrith
IVAN Cleary has spent the past two seasons telling the Wests Tigers to “get on the bus” — now he is considering doing the unthinkable and jumping off himself.
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IVAN Cleary has spent the past two seasons telling the Wests Tigers to “get on the bus”, now he is considering doing the unthinkable and jumping off himself.
Cleary’s previously squeaky clean reputation could cop a hit if he opts to quit the Tigers to return to Penrith as head coach on a multi-year deal.
The respected mentor still has two years left on his contract at the Tigers, but he wants to join the Panthers to coach his son Nathan.
Cleary is believed to be seeking a release on compassionate grounds, which has sparked frustration and anger from the Tigers’ faithful.
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The fans believe Ivan should honour his deal and finish the rebuild at the joint-venture club.
Despite the supporter’s fury, Cleary has a friend in 2005 premiership-winning Wests Tigers forward Liam Fulton.
Fulton would love to see Cleary “stay on the bus” after spending the past two seasons using the catchy phrase as a recruitment incentive at Concord, but he also understands the mentor’s desire to coach his son.
It’s why he believes the Tigers shouldn’t stand in Cleary’s way if he wants to take up a long-term contract to coach the Panthers.
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“As a Tigers fan it is disappointing if we lose Ivan, but you wouldn’t hold him back if he wants to coach his son,” Fulton told The Daily Telegraph.
“You have to have some sort of compassion there. Penrith have also got a great roster, so good luck to Ivan if he goes.
“To me, if Ivan goes it makes sense.
“Gus Gould is smart and if he wants to keep Nathan at the club, he should bring Ivan across as coach.
“Nathan is going to be a 10-year Origin player and it makes sense to bring in a quality coach like Ivan.
“But Ivan has done an awesome job at the Tigers and turned us around.
“He has made some really good purchases and most importantly he has given Luke Brooks a second lease of life.”
If the Tigers grant Cleary a release to return to the Panthers, Fulton says the club should sign former prop Todd Payten as head coach.
Payten lead the Tigers to the NYC under 20s premiership in 2012, while he is widely respected by the current playing group.
“I think Todd has done his time being an assistant coach,” Fulton said about Payten, who has worked as an assistant at North Queensland and is set to link with the Warriors as an assistant from next season.
Despite this, Fulton believes Payten should sign with the Tigers if Cleary departs.
“The Tigers have a lot of senior players and Todd would be perfect,” he said.
“He understands the culture of the club and he is a very smart man when it comes to footy.
“Todd coached the Tigers under 20s team and he got the best out of them, so there is no reason why he can’t do the same in the NRL.
“I know he would have the full endorsement of Robbie and Benji.”
Originally published as Ivan Cleary’s reputation is on the line if he decides to quit Wests Tigers for Penrith
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