Ivan Cleary
Encyclopedia
Ivan Cleary is an Australian rugby league
football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers
of the National Rugby League
and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors
where he achieved much success. As a player, Cleary was a goal-kicking fullback who played club football in Australia and New Zealand, setting a new record for most points scored in a season during the 1998 NRL Premiership.
. He started his football career with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
before moving to the North Sydney Bears
and later the Roosters
. A goal-kicking fullback, while playing for the Roosters in 1998
, Cleary was the competition's leading point scorer with 284 points, breaking the record set by Mick Cronin
in 1978.
Cleary finished his playing career with the New Zealand Warriors
. His last match was the 2002 National Rugby League
grand final
for the Warriors, which was lost to the Roosters. He retired as the Warriors' all-time top points scorer.
in the European Super League
but instead retired to take up an opportunity to join the Sydney Roosters
as the NSWRL Premier League
coach. In 2004 he coached the team to the Premiership.
. Before the 2006 NRL season Cleary replaced Kemp as the Warriors' head coach.
In 2008 Cleary coached the Warriors to the 2008 playoffs, qualifying in 8th place, meaning they had to front up against the first-placed Melbourne Storm
at Olympic Park in the first week of the playoffs. A near impossible task as the Storm had only lost 2 matches at this venue in 3 seasons (one to the Warriors in 2006), and since the McIntyre System
was introduced in 1999 no 8th placed team had ever beaten the 1st placed team. After a tense and close battle, The Warriors produced one of the biggest upsets since 1999 by beating the Storm 18-15 with a 78th minute try to Michael Witt
. This was by far the biggest success of Ivan Cleary's coaching career so far. This gave them a home Semi Final against the Sydney Roosters
. A pro-crowd of 25,585 turned up to Mt. Smart to see the Warriors win 30-13 (thus partially avenging the 2002 Grand Final loss). This gave them a Preliminary Final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
in Sydney
. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Manly won through to the Grand Final 32-6, ending the Warriors season.
The 2009 season was Cleary's worst season at the club, with the Warriors recording a lowly 14th place finish at the end of the season, just ahead of Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters
. But by 2010, the Warriors were back in the finals, finishing 5th at the end of the regular season. This saw the Warriors assigned a tough away final on the Gold Coast
against the Gold Coast Titans
. The Warriors lost 28-16, but due to other unfavourable results occurring on the weekend, the Warriors were eliminated from the finals race.
After he was released from the final year of his Warriors contract, on 29 June 2011 Cleary was signed by the Penrith Panthers
' newly-appointed football manager Phil Gould
, who was Cleary's coach when he played for the Roosters, to a three year deal starting in 2012.
The Warriors then, in their final season under Cleary, defied the odds to reach the 2011 NRL grand final
. He left the club with the record for its longest serving coach.
cited Cleary's ability with developing junior players as a reason for bringing him to Penrith in 2012.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and former head coach of the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
where he achieved much success. As a player, Cleary was a goal-kicking fullback who played club football in Australia and New Zealand, setting a new record for most points scored in a season during the 1998 NRL Premiership.
Playing career
Cleary grew up in the Northern Sydney suburb of Dee WhyDee Why, New South Wales
Dee Why is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dee Why is located 18 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Warringah Council, and along with Brookvale is considered to be...
. He started his football career with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
before moving to the North Sydney Bears
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
and later the Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. A goal-kicking fullback, while playing for the Roosters in 1998
National Rugby League season 1998
The 1998 NRL season was the 91st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the inaugural season of the newly formed National Rugby League. After the Australian Rugby League and Super League organisations ran separate competitions parallel to each other in 1997, they joined to...
, Cleary was the competition's leading point scorer with 284 points, breaking the record set by Mick Cronin
Mick Cronin (rugby league)
Michael William "Mick" Cronin OAM is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a goal-kicking centre for the Australian national team and a stalwart for the Parramatta Eels club. He played in 22 Tests and 11 World Cup matches between 1973 and 1982...
in 1978.
Cleary finished his playing career with the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
. His last match was the 2002 National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
for the Warriors, which was lost to the Roosters. He retired as the Warriors' all-time top points scorer.
Coaching career
After leaving the Warriors Cleary originally intended to join the Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
but instead retired to take up an opportunity to join the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
as the NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
coach. In 2004 he coached the team to the Premiership.
New Zealand Warriors
In 2005 Cleary re-joined the Warriors as an Assistant coach to Tony KempTony Kemp
Tony Kemp is a former New Zealand rugby league test representative and former coach of the New Zealand Warriors. He currently is a commentator for Māori Televisions coverage of the Auckland Rugby League competition and also serves on the NZRL Board.-Early years:Kemp was born in Whangarei but...
. Before the 2006 NRL season Cleary replaced Kemp as the Warriors' head coach.
In 2008 Cleary coached the Warriors to the 2008 playoffs, qualifying in 8th place, meaning they had to front up against the first-placed Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
at Olympic Park in the first week of the playoffs. A near impossible task as the Storm had only lost 2 matches at this venue in 3 seasons (one to the Warriors in 2006), and since the McIntyre System
McIntyre System
The McIntyre System, or systems because there have been five of them, is a playoff system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher...
was introduced in 1999 no 8th placed team had ever beaten the 1st placed team. After a tense and close battle, The Warriors produced one of the biggest upsets since 1999 by beating the Storm 18-15 with a 78th minute try to Michael Witt
Michael Witt
Michael Witt is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Harlequins RL in the Super League...
. This was by far the biggest success of Ivan Cleary's coaching career so far. This gave them a home Semi Final against the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. A pro-crowd of 25,585 turned up to Mt. Smart to see the Warriors win 30-13 (thus partially avenging the 2002 Grand Final loss). This gave them a Preliminary Final against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Manly won through to the Grand Final 32-6, ending the Warriors season.
The 2009 season was Cleary's worst season at the club, with the Warriors recording a lowly 14th place finish at the end of the season, just ahead of Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
. But by 2010, the Warriors were back in the finals, finishing 5th at the end of the regular season. This saw the Warriors assigned a tough away final on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
against the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
. The Warriors lost 28-16, but due to other unfavourable results occurring on the weekend, the Warriors were eliminated from the finals race.
After he was released from the final year of his Warriors contract, on 29 June 2011 Cleary was signed by the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
' newly-appointed football manager Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
, who was Cleary's coach when he played for the Roosters, to a three year deal starting in 2012.
The Warriors then, in their final season under Cleary, defied the odds to reach the 2011 NRL grand final
2011 NRL Grand Final
The 2011 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership season. It was played between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October, and it was the first time the two sides have met in a...
. He left the club with the record for its longest serving coach.
Penrith Panthers
Panthers football operations manager Phil GouldPhil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
cited Cleary's ability with developing junior players as a reason for bringing him to Penrith in 2012.