Nathan Cleary's State of Origin prediction for Ivan as wife rejects cheeky call
The Penrith Panthers hero has responded to speculation his father could become the next NSW coach.
Nathan Cleary has expressed his doubts that father Ivan would be interested in taking over as head coach of the NSW State of Origin team. The Blues are on the hunt for a new coach after Brad Fittler stepped down last week despite being offered a one-year extension.
The NSW Rugby League board have stated that the new coach doesn't have to be independent of an NRL team, as has been the case in the past. If the best available coach is one who is already employed full-time by an NRL team, it won't matter.
'SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED': New twist in Latrell and Addo-Carr debate
WOW: Nathan Cleary lifts the lid on Adam Reynolds act after grand final
The likes of Ivan Cleary, Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart have all been touted as potential candidates. However Stuart pulled out of the race this week, citing a desire to put his entire focus into the Canberra Raiders.
Cleary has won three consecutive premierships at the Panthers (from four straight grand finals), and has cemented his legacy as one of the best coaches in the NRL era. But according to son Nathan, he can't see him coaching NSW and Penrith next year.
"I don't think dad would do that," Cleary said at Penrith's end of season awards night this week. "I don't know (who replaces Fittler). We'll see what happens."
Ivan had done some work with Fittler during the State of Origin series this year, and was reportedly part of Fittler's plans for next year as well. The former coach was reportedly keen to have Ivan help out in a game-day role during the 2024 series, after he was spotted in Fittler's coaching box this year.
Nathan Cleary said he was surprised by Fittler's decision to quit after six years in charge for three series wins. "I'll probably reach out to him over the next couple of days and say thank you for what he's done for my game," Cleary said. "He has shown a lot of faith in me when I was young and coming through. I have a lot of respect for him."
Speaking at the same awards night, Cleary's mum Bec rejected a cheeky quip from Ivan in an early morning interview after the grand final. "I actually said to (Nathan) yesterday that if I'd married someone else he would have been a pretty shit player," the coach joked on Channel 9's 'Today' show.
"I've got to thank his mum for everything that he's got, because it's certainly not from me. You know what, he owes me, too. I've driven him to that many things, I've made lunches for him and done all this stuff."
But Bec said on Wednesday night: " It's not true, I'm pretty sure that (Nathan) gets the talent from (Ivan) too. He was having a bit of fun I think, he'd had a few drinks so (he was) relaxed... he was funny."
John Cartwright puts hand up to coach NSW
With Stuart already out of contention and Cleary though to be long odds, the NSWRL are in a difficult position. Only Wayne Bennett has juggled club and State of Origin coaching duties in the past decade, and that was due to the series being played after the Covid-impacted 2020 NRL season.
Stuart and Bellamy have both previously coached the Blues at the same time as their clubs, but there wasn't much success for either. Bellamy is yet to comment publicly, but has previously stated that 2024 will be his last year as an NRL coach.
Former NSW coach Laurie Daley has left the door open to return, while John Cartwright has also stated his interest. Cartwright previously worked as an assistant under Daley and playing eight games for the Blues between 1989 and 1992. He was an assistant to Kevin Walters at the Broncos this year and played a big part in helping Brisbane get all the way to the grand final.
with AAP
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
