The Penrith Panthers made headlines today when their head coach delivered a shocking and heartbreaking announcement. While the full details are still emerging, his message has sent ripples through the club and the wider NRL community.
This isn’t the first time the coach—Ivan Cleary—has spoken candidly about the pressures of leadership. In a 2023 podcast, he confessed that during his second stint at the Panthers, he came close to walking away from coaching entirely. “That was tough that first year … you were that far away from saying, ‘I’m not going to do this anymore’,” he said.
More personally, he revealed internal struggles with the burden of being both father and coach to his son, Nathan. At that time, he admitted he felt like “a burden on him” and questioned whether he was the right man for the role.
This latest announcement marks another emotional chapter in Cleary’s tenure—a reminder that behind the wins and the public image, coaching at the top level takes a deep toll.
