Ivan Cleary’s laid-back nature rubs off on Wests Tigers players during first session

THE first thing Wests Tigers players noticed about their new coach Ivan Cleary was how calm he was during his first session in charge at Concord Oval.

THE first thing the Wests Tigers players noticed about their new coach Ivan Cleary was how calm he was during his first session in charge at Concord Oval.

But even the ultra-cool Cleary is sure to have his patience tested as the dramas at the joint venture show no signs of slowing down with star playmaker Mitchell Moses dropping the bombshell he wants an immediate release to join Parramatta.

Dressed in a Tigers cap and polo, Cleary greeted the players around 8am, including Moses, before he addressed them with a quiet voice underneath the grandstand.

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He said he had no immediate plans to overhaul the structures in place, nor a desire to ‘’reinvent the wheel’’.

“He wanted us to go back to the basics and play to our strengths more,’’ said hooker Matt McIlwrick.

A few players were a little quieter than usual.

Most were relieved they finally had some clarity about their coach after the sacking of Jason Taylor and then interim coach Andrew Webster lasting two games.

The mood was described as upbeat as the players were put through their drills.

Ivan Cleary at his first Wests Tigers training session at Concord Oval.

Cleary himself looked content as the TV cameras and photographers who were turned away at the front gate captured the first scenes of him running a session for the first time in more than 18 months.

Cleary’s laid-back nature and calmness stood out to the players — and that is exactly what they will need as the Moses sideshow promises to drag on.

Tim Grant, one of four players who spent time under Cleary at Penrith, said the coach’s relaxed approach to football was exactly what the young Tigers needed, especially when the emotions boiled over during games.

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“Here at the Tigers we can ride the wave a bit, and drift in and out of games. But Ivan has that level head, and I learned under him ‘you’re never good as you think you are, and you’re never as bad as you think you are’,’’ Grant said.

McIlwrick was another who warmed to Cleary’s patient approach, and said: “That can rub off on the players.

“A few of the boys in the side who have had him said he’s structurally good, he’s a smart football coach, so he’s getting to know us as much as we’re getting to know him.’’

The few days away in Townsville will be the perfect way to get to know the coach. Who knows if Moses will board the plane. Cleary won’t lose his cool.