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Panthers confirm shock Ivan Cleary departure
Sport Nation •  May 13th, 2026 4:00 pm
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The Penrith dynasty may well and truly be nearing its end.
On Wednesday, the club confirmed reports that four-time Premiership winning coach Ivan Cleary will leave at the end of his contract in 2027.
Cleary has also confirmed he does not intend to pursue another first grade coaching role beyond his current Panthers contract.
Current Panthers Assistant Coach Peter Wallace will succeed Cleary as Head Coach from the 2028 NRL season, after agreeing to a three-year deal.
Ivan Cleary | Photo: NRL
"Panthers Head Coach Ivan Cleary has advised the club he will not seek to renew his current contract beyond the end of the 2027 NRL season," the club said in a statement.
"Cleary will continue as Panthers Head Coach for the remainder of the 2026 and 2027 NRL seasons. He will stay connected to the Panthers beyond 2027, with discussions ongoing around an advisory role in areas such as culture and leadership."
Cleary's son and the club's halfback Nathan is also off contract next season, along with captain Isaah Yeo and representative back-rower Liam Martin.
The Penrith coach, in his second stint at the club, has built one of the most dominant teams in modern times.
Cleary left Wests Tigers at the end of 2018 to coach his son and while they missed the finals in their first season together, the Panthers have only tracked upwards.
They won the minor premiership in 2020 and were beaten in a grand final by Melbourne before claiming four-straight premierships between 2021 and 2024.
Penrith lost to eventual premiers Brisbane in last year's preliminary final.
Cleary's men have tasted defeat just once so far this campaign and sit top of the table heading into a Magic Round meeting with St George Illawarra on Sunday.
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