Penrith Panthers vice-chairman and club icon Greg Alexander has shared the surprising and emotional moment when Ivan Cleary announced his decision to step back from coaching.
Alexander confessed he "nearly fell off" his chair when Cleary revealed to the board his intention to leave, marking the end of his impressive tenure as a four-time premiership-winning coach.
Recently, a Panthers press conference disclosed that Cleary would conclude his coaching role in the NRL following the 2027 season, transitioning to an advisory position the following year.
Leading up to the press conference, many anticipated an extension of Cleary's coaching career at Penrith.
However, only hours before the announcement, speculation started to circulate about his potential departure.
This unexpected decision has also ignited discussions regarding the future of his son, superstar halfback Nathan Cleary, who is rumored to explore free agency starting November 1.
On SEN, Alexander provided insights into the events that transpired behind the scenes.
"Once he reached the decision and said that 2027 would be the end of it, it's given him the enthusiasm to get to that stage," he noted.
He likened Cleary's situation to that of a player nearing retirement, stating, "It's like when a player decides to retire, you see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it drives you to the finish line."
Furthermore, Alexander mentioned, "I think he wants the freedom of living life without coaching and what comes with it."
He elaborated that coaching is not a conventional 9-5 job, emphasizing, "It's 24/7, it never leaves you."
Finally, he shared that he had been aware of Cleary's intentions for roughly two and a half weeks after a call from Peter Graham, the chairman.
"We had been talking to Ivan about extending his time after 2027," Alexander recalled, adding, "but Ivan was out first cab off the ranks."