Cleary’s return to Panthers confirmed

IVAN Cleary’s return to Penrith is complete after the NRL club confirmed his appointment on a mega five-year deal that is set to make him the Panthers’ most capped coach.

A day after being released from the final two years of his contract with the Wests Tigers, Cleary confirmed he would head back to the club that sacked him at the end of 2015.

There, he’ll join play-making son Nathan, making them the first long-term father-son combination at the club since Martin and John Lang in 2004.

“I am honoured to be back as head coach of Panthers and very much look forward to being part of the future journey,” Cleary said.

“Personally I had a feeling of unfinished business with a club and a community that my family and I enjoy a strong connection with, from grassroots through to NRL players, staff and management.

“We have raised our family in the community for a number of years and are proud to call it home.”

The 47-year-old also thanked the Tigers for their part in the process.

Six players remain from Cleary’s final year at the club in 2015, after which Cleary was sacked by the Panthers football supremo Phil Gould.

It’s understood Gould had very little to do with bringing Cleary back to the club, with the move mainly the work of chairman David O’Neill.

With 98 games already coached at the Panthers, Cleary would only have to coach a little over three seasons to surpass their capped coach Royce Simmons (177 games).