Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is being touted as successor to former Blues mentor Michael Maguire who walked away from New South Wales to join the Broncos for 2025.
Cleary has cemented himself as one of the competition’s best coaches after leading Penrith to three successive premierships (2021-2023) which could be extended to four should his side down the Storm in Sunday’s Grand Final at Accor Stadium.
For Fox League’s James Hooper, Cleary has already had an influence on the Blues’ set-up, having been called upon during Brad Fittler’s time at the helm.
“If you go back a couple of years when Freddie (Fittler) had lost the opening couple of games at his last series in charge, Cleary went and got Ivan to sit the coaches box for game three,” Fox League’s James Hooper told NRL 360.
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“His son’s the best player on the side, is a future captain of the state. I think it can work if on the New South Wales Blues hierarchy on straight out the M4 on Monday, irrespective of what happens on Sunday.
“Because Ricky Stuart ruled himself out, Laurie Daley will only go for it if they approach him. Gus Gould ruled himself out.
“I just think of all the candidates, well, he’s in a fifth straight grand final. He knows all those players so well.”
In the past the likes of Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart and Wayne Bennett have navigated being both an NRL and Origin coach.
But for The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie, appointing Cleary as Blues coach could have adverse effects on Penrith’s success.
“He’s in his fifth straight grand final because he’s not being disrupted during the season. No coach can do both,” he said.
“I’m adamant about that. Ivan’s great successes that he’s the pre-season. He’s not worrying about State of Origin. He’s not there for that big club in the middle of the year and the emotional toll it takes on a coach is extraordinary.
“I’m just saying, if he takes it and walks away essentially for six to eight weeks from the year. There’s no way they will let him do it.”
Hooper though, was of the belief Penrith have proven they can get through periods without Cleary in the past.
“A couple years ago, remember he got crook and Cameron Ciraldo had to take over. He didn’t go to games. He was barely at training,” he said.
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“He was actually in a fairly bad way. So I think Penrith has got that juggernaut set up so well that you could allow Peter Wallace and Ben Gardner the assistants to take over for that six-week block.
“It would actually be great training for those two individuals and Ivan could just focus totally on State of Origin.”
Ritchie hit back, explaining there’s more to coaching a state side than just the six-week Origin block.
“It’s not just six though. You’ve got to do the whole season. You’ve got your eye and your brain from round one on selections,” Ritchie said.
“He’s living it every week. He’s living it every week,” Hooper added.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta said former Blues legend Danny Buderus should also be in the conversation.
“I like it. No, I hadn’t heard his name, but I like what he’s done,” Hooper said.
“He was obviously part of the coaching staff when Freddie was in there. So he understands how it all fits together from a playing point of view, but also from a coach’s perspective.”
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