Penrith, Australia — The Penrith Panthers have solidified their future, ensuring their era of dominance continues with the announcement that head coach Ivan Cleary and his superstar son, co-captain Nathan Cleary, are contracted to the club until at least the end of the 2027 NRL season.
While initial speculation hinted at an unprecedented “contract for life” or an immediate extension lasting until the elder Cleary’s retirement, the club confirmed their current long-term deals, which were signed in 2022, remain the immediate focus. These deals see both Clearys secured at the foot of the mountains for five seasons in total from the beginning of the 2023 season.
Ivan Cleary, who has masterminded the Panthers’ recent premiership dynasty, is contracted until the end of 2027. Despite comments from club CEO Brian Fletcher indicating a desire to keep the father-son duo at Penrith “until their rugby league days are over,” Cleary himself has hinted that he doesn’t plan on coaching into his late 60s or 70s, as some other NRL veterans have done. Cleary, who is now 54, suggested he may be ready to step away once his current contract concludes, preferring to “be sitting back and having a beer in the stand.”
This long-term planning, however, provides the club with immense stability and is a powerful statement of intent to their rivals.
Nathan Cleary, the Dally M Medal-winning halfback, also remains locked in until 2027, taking him through to the age of 30. The co-captain has consistently affirmed his desire to remain a one-club player, making the Panthers home since he was a 14-year-old.
The pair’s current contracts were signed during the club’s recent run of premiership success, securing the core of the club’s success for the remainder of the decade. The Panthers board and management have made it clear that while 2027 is the official end date, ongoing discussions are likely to ensure the pair remains at the helm for as long as possible.
“We have Nathan and Ivan signed up till the end of ‘27 and it’s our job—or my job—to try to extend that out as far as we can to keep them both at the foot of the mountains until their rugby league days are over,” Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher previously stated, reflecting the club’s ultimate ambition for its most important duo.
For now, the Panther faithful can rest easy knowing that the reigning premier’s success is built on a foundation that will last for years to come. The goal remains for Cleary to cement his legacy further, before making the final decision on his retirement date.
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