Penrith coach Ivan Cleary recently opened up about the emotional challenge of watching his son, Nathan Cleary, the Panthers’ star halfback, suffer a shoulder injury that will keep him out for the rest of the regular season. As both a father and a coach, Ivan found it difficult to separate his professional responsibilities from his personal feelings when Nathan was forced off the field during the second half of last Thursday’s loss to the Storm. Nathan, who has already missed a significant portion of the season due to serious hamstring injuries, now faces yet another setback with this shoulder injury.
Ivan expressed his heartache over the situation, noting that it’s not easy to remain objective in such moments. He acknowledged the complexity of balancing his role as a coach, responsible for the team’s performance, and his role as a father, aware of how devastated Nathan must be. He admitted that there was a moment when he had to refocus and stay present, despite the emotional turmoil. Injuries, he said, are particularly challenging in this regard, making it difficult to fully separate the fatherly concern from the coach’s duty.
Despite the injury, Nathan has avoided surgery in hopes of returning in time for the finals. The injury, which is a recurrence of a shoulder issue Nathan had earlier in the year, was kept under wraps by the club. Rival teams are likely to target Nathan when he returns, given the vulnerability of his shoulder. However, Ivan remains optimistic, noting that the scans could have been worse and that there’s still hope for Nathan’s recovery. He reflected on the pre-season injury that initially troubled Nathan, acknowledging that it was a significant concern going into a long season. Nevertheless, Nathan managed to strengthen his shoulder during his time off due to hamstring issues and, for the most part, had no major problems until this recent setback.
Penrith’s challenges extend beyond Nathan’s injury. The team is currently fighting to maintain their second-place standing after their loss to the Storm. They will also be without suspended hooker Mitch Kenny for their upcoming match against Canberra. This season has been particularly disruptive for the Panthers, with key players like Nathan, Dylan Edwards, and James Fisher-Harris missing substantial time due to injuries, suspensions, or other commitments like the State of Origin series. Despite these obstacles, Penrith has managed to stay in the top two, demonstrating resilience and adaptability throughout the year. Ivan Cleary noted that the team has become accustomed to dealing with disruptions, and they are prepared for whatever challenges the rest of the season might bring.
In another part of the NRL, Newcastle Knights coach Adam O’Brien is under significant pressure, with his job potentially on the line depending on the team’s performance this season. According to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald, O’Brien’s contract includes a clause that could see the final two years of his deal voided if the Knights finish 13th or lower this season. O’Brien’s contract, which was extended at the beginning of the year and runs until the end of 2027, is contingent upon meeting specific performance criteria.
The Knights are currently in 11th place, tied with Brisbane (10th) and Canberra (12th) on 24 points, with only three games remaining in the regular season. This situation puts O’Brien’s future in jeopardy, as the Titans (13th on 22 points), Warriors (14th on 21 points), and Rabbitohs (15th on 20 points) all have a chance to overtake Newcastle in the final rounds. Despite a shaky start to the 2023 season, Newcastle experienced a late-season surge, inspired by Kalyn Ponga, which led to a nine-game winning streak and a fifth-place finish. This strong finish earned O’Brien a three-year contract extension. However, the Knights’ position remains precarious, and they must perform well in their final games against the Rabbitohs, Titans, and Dolphins to secure a place in the finals and ensure O’Brien’s job security.
These two narratives highlight the intense pressure and challenges faced by coaches in the NRL, where both professional and personal stakes can be incredibly high. Whether dealing with injuries to key players or fighting to secure their position, coaches like Ivan Cleary and Adam O’Brien must navigate a complex landscape where the outcomes are uncertain, and the consequences can be severe.
