Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Penrith move to tie down Cleary duo on eye-watering $13 million deal
The eye-watering $13.5 million to keep the Cleary combination at Penrith, a legendary Bulldogs coach ends club exile, the NRL’s poisoned chalice, and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Penrith will soon open talks to secure father and son Ivan and Nathan Cleary on lifetime contracts in what would be the richest package deal in rugby league history.
Wary of the potential interest during the next few years from three new NRL expansion clubs, the Panthers want to take the supercoach and champion halfback out of that target range.
The two chief architects of Penrith’s amazing three straight NRL premierships are both under contract until 2027, but Panthers boss Brian Fletcher is taking no chances.
A package deal over five years – between 2028 and 2032, with Nathan on $1.5 million and Ivan $1.2 million annually – would be worth a staggering $13.5 million.
If he was to agree to a five-year extension at Penrith, Nathan would be 34 by the completion of his contract.
“It’s our intention to have some discussions in the near future,” Fletcher said.
“They’re here until ’27, but we’d like to make them both lifetime Panthers – coach and player.
“They are obvious targets for any new franchise.
“They’ve been such an integral part of our success.
“With our pathways we’re hopefully set up for the long term, but you still want and need the best coach and best player leading us.”
Player agent George Mimis looks after Nathan’s contract, and had previously acted as an adviser for Ivan in his contract dealings at the Wests Tigers and Panthers.
“There’s no risk for Penrith in signing them both long-term,” Mimis said.
“They’re a beautiful family, they’re loyal, and they genuinely love Penrith, the region and the community. We’d definitely be open to having a discussion.
“They’ve developed that great culture, so why would they want to look elsewhere?”
The North Sydney Bears are already on record in expressing interest in Ivan Cleary for when they join forces with Perth – expected to be the game’s 18th franchise.
“Ivan played for the Bears in 1992 and 1993,” North Sydney chair Daniel Dickson said last week.
“The thing you would hope for is a coach with a rich history with the club.
“And Ivan has that.”
The appointment of an experienced and successful coach is so crucial for the new franchises.
There is no question that without Wayne Bennett, the Dolphins would not have achieved anything like their early success in their first two years – without having the old supercoach to lay the foundations and pull together a competitive roster.
* * * * *
SAINT
Michael Maguire. A magnificent coaching performance at the MCG to square the Origin series, leaving great embarrassment among the Nine Entertainment hatchet men who didn’t want Madge in the job and unsuccessfully pressured the NSWRL to keep Brad Fittler, despite Freddy’s three series losses in four years.
SINNER
The dumbest suggestion ever by Queensland captain Daly Cherry Evans to kick off State of Origin at 6pm, when most people are still on the way home from work and would miss the first 20 minutes. Maybe on a Sunday evening, but never on a midweek work night.
SHOOSH
Which part-time author, who writes a blog for a corporate bookmaking firm, is facing legal action for publishing scathing criticism of a referee he described as “incompetent”?
SHOOSH
Rumours will not go away that the owners of A-League club Sydney FC could be looking around for potential buyers. It’s a tough sell in a game where most clubs are losing money.
SPOTTED
Ever wonder how Queen of the Turf Gai Waterhouse maintains the energy to still train at the top level? The legendary horse trainer, who is 70 in September, was spotted swimming laps at Balmoral beach on Saturday morning with the temperature a chilly 10 degrees.
SPOTTED
St George Illawarra Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was so determined to keep news of his negotiations with Damien Cook out of the media that they met for discussions at the South Sydney hooker’s home, rather than take the risk of being seen at a local coffee shop.
SPOTTED
Politicians love a major sporting event. Not NSW Premier Chris Minns, who had to attend an official function in Newcastle on Wednesday evening and had to watch State of Origin on his mobile phone in the car on the way home.
BIG BREKKY
Catch you at 9.40am this morning on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with hosts Ray Thomas and Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie to discuss all things rugby league.
WOK AND HIS OLD DOGS STILL BARKING
Legendary coach Warren Ryan returned to watch the Canterbury Bulldogs on Friday night for the first time as a spectator since leaving the club 37 years ago.
‘The Wok’ won premierships with his “Dogs of War” Canterbury side in 1984 and 1985, before being replaced by Phil Gould at the end of the 1987 season after they failed to make the semis.
Joining him in a corporate suite at Accor Stadium were former “Dogs” Joe Thomas, Peter Kelly, Paul Langmack, David Gillespie and Andrew Farrar.
Now 82, Ryan was regarded as the most influential coach of the 1980s.
He regularly meets for coffee with Langmack and Andrew Johns, who both talked him into attending the game – a golden point thriller.
“It’s the first time he’s been back to watch the Dogs since ’87,” Langmack said.
“We had a great night talking some wonderful old times. Wok loved it.”
TOBY OR NOT TO BE?
You’ve got to feel for Canterbury halfback Toby Sexton, who has been outstanding as the team surges towards the finals.
They’re a much better side since he replaced Drew Hutchison at the scrumbase, but now the club is making a play for veteran Cowboys playmaker Chad Townsend.
It’s an odd move because Sexton has been playing so well – and the club also has Mitchell Woods, the boom NSW under-19s halfback.
FANS DESERVE BETTER
Another weekend of fans being unnecessarily ripped off during the State of Origin series.
The Broncos rested their three Origin stars – Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.
The Cowboys stood down Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Tom Dearden, Reece Robson, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai.
This would not be the case if Origin was moved from Wednesday to Monday night.
It is a no-brainer. The extra 48 hours for rehab would make a huge difference.
EELS TEAM SIDESTEPS HEARTLAND
Parramatta Eels could be accused of losing touch with their heartland.
Of all the places to book a room for a daylong strategy meeting on Friday, the Eels chose a conference room at the plush Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney’s CBD – a million miles away from their fan base.
As if there wasn’t a suitable facility in western Sydney for the occasion.
What’s wrong with the local Park Royal or Novotel in Parramatta, just a drop kick from CommBank Stadium?
This is so typical of Parramatta, a club with lots of top-end-of-town corporate experience but not a heap of footy nous.
Not that chief executive Jim Sarantinos agrees.
“Every internal and external event we host is in western Sydney,” he said. “This is a once-a-year occasion, and an opportunity to take our leadership team to another location – pretty common for any organisation.”
IT’S PT FOR PVL
Former independent commission chairman John Grant was known as the hire car king.
Whenever he travelled to a rugby league function, it would be in the back of a chauffeur-driven limousine.
Not so Peter V’landys.
The NRL boss landed back at Sydney Airport from Melbourne on Thursday morning, and was spotted catching the train into Town Hall Station near Racing NSW headquarters.
NRL’S POISONED CHALICE
Winning the Dally M Coach of the Year award has become a bit of a curse, especially for rookie coaches.
Last year’s winner Andrew Webster is struggling big time with the New Zealand Warriors, who are 13th on the ladder and looking highly unlikely to make the finals.
The previous year Todd Payten won as a first-year coach at the North Queensland Cowboys – then finished 11th the following season.
Then, in 2018, Anthony Seibold won the award at the South Sydney Rabbitohs in his first season at Redfern.
The next two years at the Brisbane Broncos, they finished eighth, and then copped the wooden spoon.
This year’s Coach of the Year award is wide open – and it’s a far more experienced field.
There’s probably half a dozen chances – Craig Bellamy, Ivan Cleary, Craig Fitzgibbon, Trent Robinson or Wayne Bennett.
Even Cameron Ciraldo or Shane Flanagan are not out of the running.
T20 TEAM REVAMP
A shake-up is looming in Australian cricket after our failure at the T20 World Cup – and rightly so.
We’ve now made the semi-finals in only one of the past five 20-over World Cup tournaments.
Experience is essential, but Australia had just one player in the starting 11 under 30 – Tim David, 28.
There is also a theory that we chose too many Test or 50-over players, rather than the more explosive T20 specialists like rival nations.
Coach Andrew McDonald is under pressure. He has done a magnificent job in Test and ODI cricket, but other nations are now relying on more T20 expertise in the coaching ranks.
MARTIN’S PERFECT MIX OF CEMENT
Liam Martin’s barnstorming Origin performance was reminiscent of David ‘Cement’ Gillespie – arguably the toughest second-rower to have worn the Blues jersey.
Martin absolutely monstered the Queensland pack – and old Cement was cheering every bone-jarring hit and every flare-up with the Maroons forwards.
“He’s a typically tough country kid,” Gillespie said.
“You’ve got your superstars in Origin teams, but every side needs someone like him.
“He’s a great enforcer and he’s got a great technique.
“They’d be looking out for him.”
Gillespie said Martin would not have been out of place in the old Dogs of War era when Canterbury fielded the most feared and punishing pack of forwards in the game.
“I’d rank him alongside any of my old teammates,” Gillespie said.
“You just want someone like him in your side.
“The superstars feed off players like him. He’s been such a big part of Penrith’s three comps. You build teams around him.”
PLAUDITS FOR LATRELL THE LEADER
Melbourne Storm general manager Frank Ponissi has worked alongside some of rugby league’s finest leaders – the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
Now he’s been blown away by the leadership of Latrell Mitchell, after meeting him for the first time when the Rabbitoh walked into the Blues camp two weeks ago.
“We’ve always been on opposite sides of the tunnel, and I’ve watched him play some big games over the years,” Ponissi said.
“I went in with an open mind and found him to be tremendous.
“He’s a great talker, Latrell.
“The way he spoke, the boys listened. And he’s not scared to put his two bob’s worth in.
“I found him tremendous to work with. He came into that camp, and we’re one down in the series. There’s pressure on us, but he handled it so well.”
Rule change: Cam Smith in line to be rugby league’s next Immortal
Rugby League’s 14th Immortal will be unveiled at a ceremony next month and a change to the eligibility rules means three recently retired Queenslanders are now in the running.
Sport Confidential: New top dog in NRL radio wars
The NRL breakfast radio wars have taken an intriguing twist with a duo taking the lead for the first time in the most recent rating survey. That and more in Sport Confidential.