In a stunning turn of events, Penrith Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary has publicly admitted that he is considering leaving the club to take up a new challenge, revealing that the St. George Illawarra Dragons is a team he has an interest in coaching. This admission has sent shockwaves through the rugby league world, given Cleary’s significant success with Penrith in recent years and the deep connection he has with the club.
Cleary, who has been instrumental in the Panthers’ rise to NRL dominance, leading them to multiple premierships, made the surprising comments during a candid interview. While he has long been synonymous with Penrith’s golden era, his openness about seeking a new challenge has raised many eyebrows. “Penrith Panthers is not the only team I want to be a part of,” Cleary said. “The Dragons are a club I’ve always had respect for, and they’re a team I’m looking at for the future.”
This revelation marks a dramatic shift in Cleary’s trajectory as a coach. Having been with Penrith since 2019, he helped build one of the most successful NRL teams of the past decade, with the Panthers capturing premiership titles and consistently being among the top teams in the league. His work with young players, notably his son Nathan Cleary, has been a major factor in Penrith’s sustained success.
However, despite this success, Cleary now seems eager for a new challenge, and the Dragons’ struggling state may be just the opportunity he’s seeking. St. George Illawarra has been in a rebuilding phase, and after several seasons of underperformance, many have speculated that the Dragons could be on the lookout for a high-profile coach to help lead them back to glory. Cleary’s vast experience and proven track record could be exactly what the club needs to turn things around.
For many, Cleary’s potential move to the Dragons would be a surprising one. His connection with the Panthers, particularly with his son Nathan, has been well-documented, and the father-son dynamic has been central to Penrith’s recent success. However, Cleary’s comments suggest that his coaching career is not solely tied to the Panthers. He spoke about a desire to explore new opportunities, stating that the chance to rebuild a club like the Dragons excites him. “Sometimes, the best way to grow as a coach is by facing new challenges, and the Dragons present a unique opportunity to do just that,” he said.
The possibility of Cleary moving to the Dragons would be a major shake-up in the NRL landscape. It could also signal a new era for St. George Illawarra, a team with a storied history but one that has struggled in recent years. If Cleary were to leave Penrith and join the Dragons, it would also lead to inevitable speculation about who would replace him in the Panthers’ coaching role. Given Cleary’s success, his departure would be a massive loss for Penrith, but for the Dragons, it could mark the beginning of a promising new chapter.
As Cleary’s future remains uncertain, rugby league fans are left to wonder if he will indeed make the move to St. George Illawarra. If he does, it would undoubtedly alter the landscape of the NRL and signal the end of one of the most successful coaching tenures in Penrith’s history. Whatever happens next, Ivan Cleary’s legacy in the NRL is already firmly cemented, and his potential move to the Dragons could be the next step in his storied career.
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