How Ivan Cleary usurped Phil Gould as the football kingpin of the Penrith Panthers

While I’m not calling Ivan Cleary a liar, I’m not so certain he was telling us the entire facts when he stood in front of a media scrum and maintained “there was no fallout” with Phil Gould, writes Paul Crawley.

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Don’t believe everything that comes out of Ivan Cleary’s mouth. That is not an attack on Cleary’s character, just a reflection of his footballing strength.

The easy thing for Cleary to do would have been to come out and tip the bucket on what really led to Phil Gould’s shock exit from Penrith this week.

But the fact Cleary instead spoke with respect and dignity about his former boss probably said more about Cleary the rugby league man than it did the reality of their relationship.

As one senior rugby league identity once said: “I will only lie when I have to”.

Ain’t that the truth.

While I’m not calling Cleary a liar, I’m not so certain he was telling us the entire facts when he stood in front of a media scrum Thursday morning and maintained “there was no fallout” with Gould.

Cleary faced the media on Thursday morning. Picture by Richard Dobson.

“I have known Gus for almost 25 years,” Cleary said.

“He has been a huge part of my life and my career as a player and a coach.

“He has taught me more about rugby league than anyone else, probably daylight second.

“Most of my coaching principles and foundations have come from what I learned under him.”

But while Cleary denied there had been a “blow up” last week over a decision by Gould to extend a player contract without consultation with the head coach, the fact is that was the final straw that led to Gould’s demise.

It wasn’t so much that Cleary was angry, but certainly frustrated.

Because what it did was highlight similar issues Cleary was forced to contend with on a regular basis during his previous coaching stint at Penrith, before he was sacked by Gould in 2015.

Back then Cleary was also butting heads with Gould over recruitment and retention and the one that brought it all to a head was when Cleary wanted to keep Api Koroisau ahead of James Segeyaro, only to find out Koroisau had signed with Manly.

Cleary is now in full control. Picture by Richard Dobson.

The difference back then was Gould held ultimate power.

This time it simply wasn’t going to wash.

Though Cleary was adamant: “I have never had a blow up with Gus in my life.

“I know it seems like a nice narrative.

“But Gus has always said that this role that he is in will come to an end at some point. He was always the one that was going name that.

“I certainly respect that decision and feel indebted that it is now our job as a staff and me leading that staff to take it from here.”

Yet the narrative is what it is.

The truth.

Cleary and Gould’s working relationship had passed its used by date.

And the time had come for Penrith to move forward with Cleary as undisputed leader.

Now he gets his chance to show what he is really made of.

He has the talent and the resources Gould has put in place and he has to prove he can do what Gould could not in the last eight years, and take the Panthers to a premiership.

Cleary returned to Penrith this season. Picture by Sam Ruttyn.

While Cleary claimed again “there was never any discussion” that he had sought a guarantee from the Penrith board before his return that Gould would not interfere with football operations, what had changed was the balance of power had shifted.

That is why when Gould was told in no uncertain terms that he was not to make any further football related decisions without Cleary’s counsel, it basically left Gould backed into the corner where the only way out was via the exit door.

When Cleary walked out on Wests Tigers last year there was plenty of understandable resentment given the lack of transparency that was afforded to the fans.

But this time around the last thing Penrith needs is to drag this into the gutter.

And Cleary was acting on football instinct.

As he said recently about his secrecy at the Tigers: “I was open and honest with everyone that needed to know”.

As difficult as it is for the rest of us to cop, that is clearly Cleary’s football mantra.

Cleary goes up against Wayne Bennett - the coach Gould wanted to sign before Gould was overruled by the board.

Penrith is Cleary’s club now. Picture by Brett Costello.

Bennett was won seven premierships, Cleary none.

Yet Cleary was adamant that he does not feel any more pressure as a result of Gould’s departure.

For that part, I believe him given he no longer has to look over his shoulder to see what Gus is up to.

“I take this position and responsibility I am in very seriously,” Cleary said.

“A lot of the stuff I do and I believe in has come from learning under Gus.

“He will leave a void here that we probably don’t even realise what that is just yet because you can’t replace someone like Gus.

“As a man and as a professional there is just no one really like him.

“That will be up to us to navigate through that but I am really confident in the future of the club.

“We have a lot of really talented people here who have the opportunity to grow and I guess fill in those voids which is exciting.”