Ivan Cleary returns to Penrith

Ivan Cleary has re-joined Penrith Panthers as head coach on a five-year contract.

The 47-year-old returns to the Panthers following a two-year spell at Wests Tigers.

Cleary previously coached Penrith between 2012 and 2015, leading the club to a Preliminary Final appearance in 2014.

On his return to Penrith, Cleary said: “I am honoured to be back as head coach of Panthers and I’m very much looking forward to being part of the future journey.

“Personally, I had a feeling of unfinished business with the 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.”

Cameron Ciraldo and Peter Wallace will take on the assistant coaching roles at Penrith in 2019, with pre-season training set to begin mid-November.

Cleary will coach his son, Nathan, at the Panthers in 2019.