Ivan Cleary set to confirm 2027 will be his final year as Penrith Panthers coach
The shock decision comes despite the four-time premiership coach enjoying another brilliant season.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is set to walk away from the club at the end of 2027.
Cleary and the club called a snap press conference on Wednesday afternoon where the master coach will confirm his plans for the future.
He is expected to say he will honour the final year of his contract before pursuing other opportunities.
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Penrith are flying at the top of the ladder with just one loss from 10 matches.
Cleary’s superstar son Nathan is also out of contract at the end of 2027.
The pair both signed blockbuster five-year deals with the club at the end of the 2022 season.
Nathan will be free to test the market on November 1 where he is expected to field some of the biggest contract offers in NRL history.
Cleary began his coaching career at the New Zealand Warriors in 2006, leading the club to the grand final in his final year in charge in 2011.
He then joined Penrith where he led them to a preliminary final in 2014 before narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon the following season.
Cleary spent two years at the Wests Tigers before returning to the Panthers at the end of 2018 for his second and most successful stint.
After losing the 2020 grand final to Melbourne Storm, Cleary led the Panthers to four consecutive premierships to confirm his status as one of the greatest ever.
More to come ...
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
