LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In the midst of a troubling NRL trend, Ivan Cleary has stepped up to the plate and called for clubs to be compensated for their efforts in nurturing junior talent, which is often poached by rival teams.
This issue hits close to home for Cleary as his own son, Jett Cleary, recently inked a deal with the Warriors, leaving the Penrith Panthers behind.
Panthers supporters had high hopes for a dynamic duo with Nathan and Jett Cleary running the show, but those dreams were shattered when the younger Cleary was lured away by a competing team.
This situation is not unique to Jett, as a slew of talented players have been plucked from the Panthers' junior ranks in recent years, leaving the club scrambling to fill the gaps.
The Panthers have seen a revolving door of 14 players who have tasted success in the Premiership depart in the last three seasons, unable to match the lucrative offers from other clubs.
The poaching doesn't stop there, with rival teams raiding Penrith's esteemed junior nursery and snatching up promising talents like Isaiya Katoa, Mason Teague, Luke Hanson, Keagan Russell-Smith, and Delahia Wigmore.
Coach Cleary is fed up with this one-sided game and is calling for a compensation system to level the playing field.
"I reckon we deserve some kind of recognition, especially in terms of development," Cleary remarked, determined to see his club receive the recognition they deserve for cultivating top-tier talent.