Cleary Steps Away from Judiciary, Eyes Premiership Redemption
Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has declared his days of courtroom-style advocacy for players in the NRL judiciary are behind him, following a significant victory for his son, Nathan, last week. After a period of intense focus on a potential three-match suspension for his star playmaker, Cleary is now shifting his full attention back to the primary goal: reclaiming the premiership trophy that eluded them last season.
The Panthers’ formidable winning streak was abruptly halted, and the subsequent judiciary hearing for Nathan Cleary became a high-stakes affair. The veteran coach, usually seen with a clipboard in hand, traded his usual attire for a suit, armed with still photos and a keen eye for detail. His efforts proved successful, with Nathan’s potential three-match ban being successfully downgraded to a monetary fine, ensuring his availability for crucial upcoming matches.
This particular hearing held a sense of vindication for Ivan Cleary, coming five years after he represented Api Koroisau in a judiciary case he ultimately lost. The recent win saw his son, Nathan, cleared to play after initially facing a two-match ban for an incident Cleary deemed to be a “grade one” offence with no direct contact to the head.
“It was a disappointing thing to go through, actually,” Ivan Cleary commented on the experience. “It was quite a big thing, either no weeks or three weeks for something that was pretty clearly a grade one.” He expressed relief at navigating the situation successfully and his eagerness to have Nathan back on the field.
Cleary elaborated on his decision to represent his son, stating, “I represented him because it was quite obvious that it wasn’t direct contact to the head. That’s pretty much the only reason.” He also acknowledged that if the initial proposed ban had been for a single week, the challenge might not have been pursued. This points to a broader concern about the current system, which Cleary believes may require re-evaluation. “That’s part of the system that probably needs addressing because ultimately it was the wrong call and that’s why we challenged it,” he added.
He stressed that his involvement in the judiciary was a one-off for this specific circumstance. “I don’t think a lawyer needed to be able to show a couple of still shots and a video to show that it actually didn’t happen,” he remarked, suggesting that perhaps the NRL’s technology for the match review committee could be improved. “Maybe the NRL need to update their TVs or something for the match review committee. I’d rather be giving (lawyer duties) to someone else, or we’re not in there. That’d be better.”
One of Ivan Cleary’s significant frustrations centred on the harsh penalties handed out for incidents occurring in trial matches. He highlighted that the NRL had confirmed any potential ban would not have impacted Nathan’s Dally M contention, yet the initial severity of the proposed suspension remained a point of contention.
“They’re just trial games,” Cleary stated emphatically. “There needs to be a little bit of understanding that players are still trying to find their timing.” He found the situation particularly irksome due to what he perceived as an incorrect initial ruling. “The frustrating thing was that it was just the wrong call and I think a lot of people back off from going to the judiciary because they’re not that confident how that will work out.”
Despite his reservations about the process, Cleary acknowledged a positive outcome from this instance. “But I must say, it worked out well and I think it was a really good hearing and everyone got the right result.”
Looking ahead, the Panthers are set to commence their 2026 campaign against the Brisbane Broncos on Friday night. This fixture carries a particular significance, as it marks a rematch against the team that ended their premiership aspirations in the previous season before going on to claim the grand final title.
However, Cleary is keen to downplay any notion of “revenge” being a motivational factor. Instead, he is confident in his team’s preparation and their prospects for a deep finals run in the upcoming season. “There’s nothing I can see that suggests we’re not in for a good season,” he asserted.
He remains pragmatic about the early stages of the competition, acknowledging the uncertainty that often surrounds team performance until several rounds have passed. “I don’t know what everyone else has been doing in their prep, and that’s the thing. You’re not really going to know until five, six, seven weeks into the comp.”
Nonetheless, Ivan Cleary expressed a strong sense of optimism regarding the Panthers’ current standing. “I feel like we’re going to be really competitive,” he concluded, signalling his belief in the team’s ability to contend for silverware once again.
