BREAKING: Penrith Panthers Head Coach Ivan Cleary Rejects PNG Chiefs Approach, No Resignation Submitted
**PENRITH, Australia** – Contrary to circulating rumors, Penrith Panthers head coach **Ivan Cleary** has not submitted his resignation. The four-time premiership-winning coach has instead made a definitive decision regarding his future, rejecting an approach from the NRL’s incoming expansion franchise, the Papua New Guinea Chiefs .
The Chiefs, who will enter the competition as the NRL’s 19th team in 2028, had reportedly targeted Cleary as their preferred inaugural head coach. The expansion club’s newly appointed general manager of football, Michael Chammas, confirmed that while the Chiefs explored the possibility, Cleary made his position clear .
“We asked the question of Ivan Cleary, but unfortunately Ivan has made it clear that it’s not in his plans to coach the PNG Chiefs, so we move on,” Chammas stated on SEN radio. “With someone like Ivan off contract at the end of 2027, I think it would have been negligent of us to not ask the question. That decision has been made and we respect Ivan’s decision” .
The decision effectively ends speculation about a potential Cleary family package deal that would have seen son Nathan and possibly younger brother Jett join the expansion franchise under their father’s coaching leadership . Both Ivan and Nathan Cleary are off-contract with the Panthers at the end of 2027, making the timing of the Chiefs’ inquiry particularly significant .
Nathan Cleary had previously addressed speculation about his future, telling reporters earlier this month: “At the end of the day, I love where I’m at right now; to me, I haven’t really thought too much about my future because I still have two years to run on my contract” .
The Panthers have already begun what insiders call “Operation Keep Clearys” to convince the father-son duo to commit to long-term extensions with the club . The franchise recently demonstrated its commitment to retaining key personnel by securing representative prop Lindsay Smith on an extension through the 2029 season, with Ivan Cleary praising Smith as “a tremendous asset to our team” .
With Ivan Cleary out of contention, the PNG Chiefs will now turn their attention to other candidates. Jason Demetriou (current PNG national coach), Adrian Lam (Leigh Leopards), and Willie Peters (Hull KR) have emerged as the leading contenders for the role .
The timing of the announcement coincides with Nathan Cleary’s successful judiciary hearing on Monday, where Ivan Cleary—rather than a lawyer—personally argued for his son to have a grade-two careless high tackle charge downgraded. The panel agreed after just 12 minutes of deliberation, clearing Nathan to face Brisbane in round one .
For Penrith Panthers fans, Ivan Cleary’s decision represents a significant vote of confidence in the club he has led to four consecutive premierships and sustained dominance in the NRL. The Panthers are scheduled to begin their 2026 campaign against the Broncos in round one.
