Panthers confirm coach succession plan

Penrith Panthers NRL
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Panthers confirm long-term head coach succession plan

Panthers Media | 13 May 2026

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Penrith Panthers can today confirm a long-term succession plan for the club’s NRL head coaching role.

Panthers Head Coach Ivan Cleary has advised the club he will not seek to renew his current contract beyond the end of the 2027 NRL season.

Cleary will continue as Panthers Head Coach for the remainder of the 2026 and 2027 NRL seasons. He will stay connected to the Panthers beyond 2027, with discussions ongoing around an advisory role in areas such as culture and leadership.

Cleary has also confirmed he does not intend to pursue another first grade coaching role beyond his current Panthers contract.

Current Panthers Assistant Coach Peter Wallace will succeed Cleary as Head Coach from the 2028 NRL season, after agreeing to a three-year deal.

The announcement provides the club with long-term certainty and ensures a smooth transition.

Following a 186-game first grade playing career, Cleary began his NRL coaching career with the Warriors in 2006 before joining the Panthers as Head Coach in 2012.

After two seasons with Wests Tigers in 2017 and 2018, Cleary returned to Penrith in 2019.

Since then, he has overseen the most successful period in the club’s history, guiding the Panthers to four consecutive NRL premierships from 2021 to 2024, as well as three minor premierships in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

He was also named Dally M Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2020.

Wallace, a Panthers Life Member and former club captain, played 240 NRL games across his career, including 101 matches for Penrith across two stints from 2005 to 2008 and 2014 to 2018. He also played 139 games for the Brisbane Broncos between 2008 and 2013.

A respected representative player, Wallace featured for the NSW Blues in State of Origin on four occasions, represented City Origin twice and played four Tests for Scotland.

Following his retirement as a player, Wallace moved into coaching with the Panthers, leading the club’s reserve grade side from 2020 to 2022. In 2022, he guided the team to the NSW Cup premiership before going on to claim State Championship honours.

Wallace joined Cleary’s NRL coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2023 and has played a key role in the Panthers’ continued success, including premiership victories in 2023 and 2024.

As the club’s defensive coach, Wallace has helped maintain one of the strongest defensive systems in the NRL, with the Panthers consistently ranked among the competition’s best defensive teams during his time on the NRL coaching staff.

The succession plan reflects the Panthers’ commitment to stability, continuity and sustained success.

Cleary will remain fully focused on leading the NRL program through the next two seasons, while Wallace will continue in his role as Assistant Coach before formally taking the reins in 2028.

The club believes the transition provides the strongest possible foundation for the next chapter of Panthers football, ensuring the standards, culture and leadership that have defined the club’s recent success continue well into the future.

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Good to go out at the top but it beggars the question - what about the boy?

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Not sure just yet, but I mean the question of who is going to fill in Nathan’s shoes was coming up even if he does decide to extend at Penrith.

I think the focus will have to start shifting towards ‘Generation Next’ rather then clinging onto the stars we have. when the dynasty begun we had one of the youngest team in the league, now these guys are no longer spring chickens.

We need to shift to identifying talent for succession in our junior talent pipeline and getting hem up to grade while we still have a wealth of talent ad experience in the top grade.

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Oh wow.

There’s also that list of stars that come off contract at the end of 2027; a growing list of those who are “interested in testing the market” or whatever wording they’ve used.

Why do I feel like we’re going to lose a number of stars and going to see a core 2020~2024 Panther-strong PNG Chiefs?

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PNG are financially attractive but with an inherently restrictive lifestyle. Interestingly Suruva extended at the Tigers; perhaps Luai should have had a little chat with him before committing to the Chiefs.

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I see this as a good move. All current players, along with anyone we talk to know what our coaching structure will look like moving forward.

Anyone who is happy with that stays, anyone who isn’t has plenty of notice to look elsewhere.

I’m sure that Ivan will be doing everything possible to ensure a seamless transition at the end of the 2027 season.

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Probably the best possible way this has happened. A clear succession plan with a well respected understudy.

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It was nice to see a plan put into place to put minds at ease and implement continuity after Ivans departure.

Peter Wallace is the best choice to take charge. He has been through the junior development system, coached the lower grades and been Ivan understudy for some time now.

He is a respected life member, a former captain of the Penrith and has the respect of players and fans alike.

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Now I have had time to think about it, I think the best option for 2027 is to have Wallace step into Head Coach and Cleary to Assistant.

It would be good for Wallace to transition into the role in the first year and have the guidance and experience of Cleary.

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Whether it’s formally done on paper or not, I think this will be happening in practice Steve

Still in a bit of shock at the announcement. Moreso for the speculation of the snowball of impacts (hopefully none)

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The media are having a field day wit this. Dissecting every single word said in the press conference and seeing how far out on context they can take it.

I just don’t hope all this media speculation and over focus doesn’t affect our on-field performance.

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IC has earned the right to choose to do whatever he wants & I will support him on whatever he elects to do… I reserve the right to change that if he ever coaches the slimies or the rorters though :rofl: :rofl:

I hope he does stay with us for many years, as he is truly a good man. If he goes on to coach the Blues and perhaps the Kangaroos, I think that would be great for the game.

We will be forever grateful for his time at the Panthers.

Also, the way this has been handled speak volumes for the culture at the entire Panthers organisation. When I look at our club post the 2018 season, I can only marvel at how well, to a man & woman, the entire organisation has worked.

Proud to be a Panther!!! :paw_prints: :paw_prints:

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100% mrwalker - If this was any other club, it would have been headlines before the announcement - I love the fact that our Club holds it’s integrity above gossip - that is a credit to EVERYONE involved at the club.

AND VERY PROUD TO BE A PANTHER

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