Former NRL forward Gorden Tallis has harshly criticised Wests Tigers mentor Ivan Cleary amid the speculation surrounding his coaching future.
Cleary met with the Panthers following the sacking of ex-coach Anthony Griffin about a potential return to the club, but ultimately revealed he would remain at the Tigers during a press release on Saturday.
But Tallis has boldly declared Cleary is overrated and does understand why he is so highly coveted.
“Everybody’s carrying on about Ivan Cleary but I’m calling bulls*** on his record,” Tallis told Triple M.
“It (his win-loss record) was 50 percent at the Warriors, it was 47 percent at the Panthers and it’s 41 percent (at Wests Tigers).
“Jason Taylor had a better record at the Tigers and they’re saying that he’s on $1.5 million (a season) and (Penrith) are chasing him.
“I think his record out seeds how he’s coaching at the moment.
“(Craig) Bellamy’s (winning percentage) is at 68 percent, Wayne Bennett’s at 62 percent.
“… So this guy who they’re chasing, and I like Ivan I think he can coach, but it’s a lot of money and a lot of pressure on a guy that doesn’t have the record that people think he’s got.”
