Panthers reportedly target Ivan Cleary as coach three years after his sacking
Related Story: Panthers job has a dozen applicants already, says Gould, but club's preference clear Related Story: Penrith Panthers sack Anthony Griffin as coach ahead of NRL finals
Could it actually happen?
Less than three years after being unceremoniously sacked by the club, the Penrith Panthers now want to lure current Wests Tigers mentor Ivan Cleary back to coach his son Nathan.
The latest NRL coaching merry-go-round was sent into overdrive when Panthers general manager Phil Gould sacked Anthony Griffin on Monday. It was the third coach he has sent packing — including Cleary — since 2011.
It was a shock move to all outside of the club considering the team are aiming for three straight wins, sitting in fifth place on the ladder, and have just four matches to go before they contest the finals for the third time in as many seasons.
One could think that the Panthers were in a pretty good spot.
But Gould swung the axe swiftly, citing Griffin's "old-school" approach and his reluctance to collaborate as factors in his departure.
Reports have circulated for months saying Griffin had lost the confidence of his players, but Panthers five-eighth James Maloney said he had no problems with the man they call Hook.
"He didn't lose my support, I had no issue," Maloney told Sky Radio.
"I definitely think [he] has an old-school attitude and that which I don't think is necessarily a negative thing … I talked with him quite openly all through the year and he was receptive to that and gave me quite a bit of input into things."
Regardless, what is done is done and the Panthers are adamant they were going to move quickly.
Gould said on Tuesday morning he had already received a dozen applications for the job, but has identified one person as their main target to replace Griffin. He would not reveal who that was.
Then there was reports that the club has already tabled Cleary a monster four-year deal to return to the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher told News Corp the club had not offered Cleary a contract but "that is not to say we won't table something in the coming days".
It seems the Panthers are ready to pounce but the Wests Tigers are far from keen on letting that happen. It is shaping as a massive catfight.
Tigers won't let go of Cleary easily
Cleary produced mixed results when he coached the Panthers between 2012 and 2015.
He guided them to the preliminary finals stage in 2014, the same season he won the Dally M coach of the year award, but was sacked 12 months later after the Panthers finished 11th on the ladder, with Gould saying at the time Cleary "needed a break".
Cleary linked up with the Tigers after Jason Taylor was axed early in the 2017 season and is signed with them until the end of 2020.
His influence on the team already has been notable on and off the field. He is held in the highest regard by the club's fans.
Tigers chairperson Marina Go said the club would not be granting Cleary a release if he asked.
It is an intriguing situation. There is little doubt Cleary will one day coach his son but at what cost?
Does he find a way to join the 20-year-old at the Panthers and ply his trade under the same group that showed him the door in the past?
There would certainly be some relationships there that would need a bit of finessing.
Will he stay "on the bus" and honour his deal with the rebuilding Tigers, and wait for Nathan's deal at Penrith to finish at the end of next season?
It seems likely the youngster's next deal will involve his father no matter what. Ivan Cleary has also previously hinted at a plan to fit Nathan into the team despite having a number of quality halves at his disposal.
And around and around we go.
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