30 Oct 2018

Penrith confirm the return of Ivan Cleary

7:13 am on 30 October 2018

Ivan Cleary's return to Penrith is complete after the NRL club confirmed his appointment on a mega five-year deal that is set to make him the Panthers' most capped coach.

Ivan Cleary.

Ivan Cleary. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

A day after being released from the final two years of his contract with the Wests Tigers, Cleary confirmed he would head back to the club that sacked him at the end of 2015.

There, he'll join play-making son Nathan, making them the first long-term father-son combination at the club since Martin and John Lang in 2004.

"I am honoured to be back as head coach of Panthers and very much look forward to being part of the future journey," Cleary said.

"Personally I had a feeling of unfinished business with a club and a community that my family and I enjoy a strong connection with, from grassroots through to NRL players, staff and management.

"We have raised our family in the community for a number of years and are proud to call it home."

The 47-year-old also thanked the Tigers for their part in the process, after it's believed a deal was struck between the joint-venture and Penrith for his release.

The decision to hop off the Tigers' bus with two years to run on his contract angered the club's fans, with club chief executive Justin Pascoe admitting to AAP on Sunday supporters had a right to be annoyed.

"I am very fond of Wests Tigers and all its people," Cleary said.

"I enjoyed my time there and it is a club heading in the right direction.

"I would like to thank Justin Pascoe and Marina Go for their professionalism throughout."

Six players remain from Cleary's final year at the club in 2015, after which Cleary was sacked by the Panthers football supremo Phil Gould who claimed the coach looked tired.

It's understood Gould had very little to do with bringing Cleary back to the club, with the move mainly the work of chairman David O'Neill.

"The Panthers board is delighted with the appointment of Ivan Cleary as head coach for the next five years," CEO Brian Fletcher said.

"The talent and depth in our playing squad means our club is well-placed to push for a premiership and we believe Ivan is the coach to take us there.

"Our players and staff have always maintained immense respect for Ivan, which speaks volumes about the quality of his character."

Caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo will stay on as an assistant after he replaced the sacked Anthony Griffin earlier this year, while Peter Wallace will also retain his spot on football staff.

With 98 games already coached at the Panthers, Cleary would only have to coach a little over three seasons to surpass the club's most capped coach Royce Simmons (177 games).

IVAN CLEARY'S NRL COACHING RECORD

WARRIORS (2006-2011)

Matches: 154

Win rate: 50 per cent

Finals series: 4

Grand finals 1 (2011)

Premierships: 0

PENRITH (2012-2015)

Matches: 98

Win rate: 44.9 per cent

Finals series: 1

Grand finals: 0

Premierships: 0

WESTS TIGERS (2017-2018)

Matches: 43

Win rate: 41.9 per cent

Finals series: 0

Grand finals: 0

Premierships: 0

OVERALL:

Matches: 295

Win rate: 47.1 per cent.

AAP