Wests Tigers veteran Benji Marshall has spoken out about Ivan Cleary's decision to remain head coach of the Tigers, following rumours he would be linking up with son Nathan at the Panthers next season.
Cleary still has two years to run on his deal at Concord, although following Penrith's decision to sack Anthony Griffin in early August, speculation was mounting that Cleary would seek a move to the Panthers to team up with his son.
However, Cleary ultimately decided to stay, although Marshall understands the reasons why Cleary considered a move to the foot of the mountains.
โThese are my words and not Ivanโs but I could imagine he wanted to take the pressure off Nathan because they want to work together,โ Marshall told the Daily Telegraph.
โItโs hard for Nathan to leave his mates at Penrith โ so that would have been an opportunity to take that decision out of Nathanโs hands by coaching him at the Panthers.
โI think with what happened with that coaching situation, it would be something that youโd want to entertain.
โBut entertaining was one thing and he obviously didnโt commit to that.
โSo from my point of view, and Iโve been talking to Ivan through that whole period, he was going nowhere.
โIvan is a man of his honour and I could see that he didnโt want to have that tarnished by leaving.
โThat was probably a big reason why he didnโt follow that through.
โBut Ivan is the shining light for the Wests Tigers fans. That is why they were so filthy when the news came out because they didnโt want him to go.โ
Cleary and Marshall will team up one last time in 2019, after the New Zealand international signed a one-year extension last month to see out his career as a Tiger.
