Debate has raged over Panthers coach Ivan Cleary’s place amongst the greatest of all time debate as he closes in on a remarkable and unprecedented five-peat in the salary cap era.

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When Cleary lost the 2020 Grand Final to the Storm he had yet to win a premiership as a coach or player in 30 years in rugby league.

But since that defeat he has been the leader of one of the greatest dynasties in the game’s history and certainly the best of the Grand Final era.

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Now just two wins away from his fifth title in a row, Cleary is already in the GOAT debate, but could match or surpass some of the greatest ever in the sport if he wins a fifth title.

Only Wayne Bennett with seven premierships, Jack Gibson (five) and Craig Bellamy (three from five Grand Final wins) are ahead of him.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes Cleary can at the very least equal the greats with a fifth straight title from six straight Grand Finals in the salary cap era.

“It’s a really big thing to say because I grew up as a young reporter when Jack Gibson was winning titles and he won five grand finals,” Rothfield said on NRL 360.

“And Wayne Bennett has won seven. And Craig Bellamy, no one will ever match the consistency, he has won five titles and kept three of them.

“But I think under the salary cap rules and considering the amount of players and assistant coaches he has lost. Considering they were at the bottom of the ladder in Round 12 and have had to come from nowhere, if he lifts that trophy in two week’s time, I would put him up with Gibson, Bennett and Bellamy as the greatest coaches of all time.”

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Two modern day coachiong greats.Source: Getty Images

Rothfield’s Daily Telegraph colleague Brent Read, however said there was a key area where Bellamy was ahead.

“He is in the argument there is no doubt about that and he deserves to be,” Read said.

“It’s worth a debate, but I think Bellamy is ahead of him because Craig has regenerated teams.

“Cleary has been at the top for five years in a row, but Bellamy has won premierships, dipped and then built the team back up again.”

However, Rothfield questioned if Bellamy has lost as many top players as Cleary over a short space of time.

“I know Bellamy has lost players, but has he consistently lost them like Ivan has done?” Rothfield said.

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“Yes over 20 years he has consistently lost them,” Read said.

“And Wayne Bennett has won seven comps.”

Rothfield then pointed out Bennett’s titles came before the salary cap when the Broncos had a team stacked with Queensland stars.

“But when Wayne was winning comps he had half the Queensland side, probably more,” Rothfield said.