Ivan Cleary leading Penrith to grand final five years to the day the Panthers sacked him
Five years to the day that Ivan Cleary was sacked, Penrith supremos Dave O’Neill and Brian Fletcher reveal the stunning circumstances surrounding Phil Gould’s controversial call.
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The bombshell press release arrived out of the blue from the Penrith Panthers exactly five years ago to the day.
A Monday evening, 5.55pm, October 19, 2015, headlined ‘Panthers part ways with Ivan Cleary’.
The day Phil Gould sacked the man leading Penrith into Sunday’s grand final, telling him he needed a rest.
It was such a surprise that board member Dave O’Neill, now Panthers chairman, didn’t know.
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“I had nothing to do with it,” O’Neill said. “I found out five minutes after it had happened.”
In those days chief executive Warren Wilson and Gould were in charge.
“As it turned out it wasn’t the smartest thing we’ve done,” says Brian Fletcher, then chairman and now chief executive.
“As you know in those days Gus ran the football department.
“We (the board) were just guided by his expertise. We trusted him, that’s why we put him in that position. Gus thought he was tired and needed a break. That was it”
Cleary had a year to run on his contact. The Panthers had run 11th with just nine wins.
Gus went off to sign Anthony Griffin and Cleary got a job at NRL headquarters with the referees.
Fletcher recalls upset Cleary was at the time.
“I know at the time Ivan was very disappointed,” Fletcher said.
“And so he should have been. Although some might look at it and think, maybe he did need a freshen up.
“All I know is that he’s a good guy and he’s done a great job with this side and we’re so delighted we were able to get him back.”
You go back to the first paragraph of the press release: “Panthers Executive General Manager Phil Gould AM today met with coach Ivan Cleary and informed him the club has terminated the final year of his contract, effective immediately.”
Your columnist can recall the controversy clearly.
That weekend we were in Coffs Harbour for the National junior Oz Tag championships.
Ivan was there watching his kids playing for Nepean.
Gus was there watching his son Jack playing for Cronulla.
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They stayed in accommodation just 10 minutes apart — Gus in Sawtell and Ivan at the Novotel in north Coffs Harbour — but didn’t speak once.
At the time we reported his sacking concerned the two key issues:
#Cleary’s decision to dump his assistant coach Trent Barrett because he was in negotiations with Manly. Gould had wanted him to stay instead of him being put on gardening leave; and
#That a number of senior players had lost confidence and belief in the coach which could affect contract negotiations and the club’s ability to attract new players.
Five years is a long time in rugby league.
Gus is long gone.
Barrett is back helping the head coach on this incredible premiership journey.
And the players are rapt to be playing for Cleary.