Ivan Cleary has confirmed he’s stepping down as Panthers coach at the end of 2027 after holding a snap press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Speaking alongside club chairman Peter Graham, CEO Matt Cameron and Penrith assistant coach Peter Wallace, the four-time premiership-winning coach confirmed the bombshell news.
“I’m going to be stepping down from NRL coaching at the end of 2027,” Cleary started off the press conference by saying. He said it was “not a decision he’d taken lightly” but believed it was the best one for Penrith and his family. The club also confirmed that Wallace would take over the head coaching role in 2028 after Cleary departs.
Ivan and Nathan Cleary have won four NRL premierships together at the Panthers.
(Mark Kolbe)
Cleary is under contract until the end of 2027 – the same as son and superstar halfback Nathan. Champion No.7 Nathan is among a number of Panthers players who can test the open market as of November 1, along with the likes of Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Mitch Kenny. Cleary, Yeo and Martin have all stated they’d be keen to see what’s out there on the free agency market, but the Panthers are hopeful of keeping them.
Penrith have been desperate for Ivan and Nathan to both re-sign long term but are resigned to losing the veteran coach after Wednesday’s announcement. The Penrith mentor said the club had offered him a position to stay on in an advisory role but says he hasn’t yet decided what his next career venture will be.
Ivan Cleary’s current contract finishes at the end of 2027.
(Cameron Spencer via Getty Images)
There have been some suggestions that Cleary could take on an Origin role with the Blues in the future, and he certainly didn’t close the door on the possibility of a return to coaching at some point. “I’m not getting any younger and I want to use the skills I have in other areas,” he added. “I still love coaching but I have plenty of time to scratch that itch.”
Cleary left Wests Tigers at the end of 2018 to coach his son and while they missed the finals in their first season together, the Panthers have become the NRL’s greatest modern dynasty under his reign. They won the minor premiership in 2020 and were beaten in a grand final by Melbourne before claiming four-straight premierships between 2021 and 2024.
Peter Wallace to succeed Ivan Cleary as Panthers coach
Panthers assistant Wallace admitted Cleary would leave some massive shoes to fill. But he was excited to be given the opportunity to succeed the legendary mentor and continue learning under Cleary until his departure.
The Panthers have confirmed that assistant Peter Wallace (R) will take over Ivan Cleary when the Penrith head coach steps down after 2027. Pic: Getty
(Tony Feder via Getty Images)
“There’s no better person to take over from,” Wallace said. “The amount I’ve learnt off Ivan over the years – both as a player and a coach working beside him. And I’ve still got 18 months working alongside him to prepare for that. In terms of a transition I don’t think there would be a better club to do it at and a better coach to do it under .”
Cleary said he contemplated his future last year amid a poor run of form for the Panthers. But he said he “wanted to make sure it was the right time” before deciding that he was going to step away as head coach. The 55-year-old feels like making the call now gives the club “clarity” about its direction moving forward under a new coach.
“It gives Peter (Wallace) a good lead-in to the job and particularly next year I feel like I’ll be able to help him a lot in that sense,” Cleary added. “I’m passionate about being able to help a first-time coach and I got that sort of help early in my career and I don’t think I could have survived without it.”
Nathan Cleary’s future at Panthers in question
Ivan has stated he doesn’t want to coach against Nathan again after doing so briefly while at the Wests Tigers. Ivan’s announcement will undoubtedly play a role in what his son Nathan and other players decide in regards to their futures.
Rumours have been rife for months about what Nathan’s future holds. A popular theory is he could move overseas to be closer to girlfriend Mary Fowler, who plays football in England for Manchester City.