Beloved Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has revealed how a secret illness left him fighting for life in intensive care mid-season.
The two-time premiership coach was hospitalised after a serious knee infection saw him develop worrying blood clots on his lungs earlier this year.
Cleary’s family were forced to put on a united front as the 51-year-old watched games from his living room after taking a step back from active coaching duty.
His wife Bec said she had realised her husband was sick when he took rare time off work to recover, adding he barely moved from the couch for several weeks.
Ivan Cleary, two-time premiership coach, was hospitalised after a serious knee infection saw him develop worrying blood clots on his lungs earlier this year
His devoted wife Bec had realised her husband was sick when he took rare time off work, adding he had barely moved from the couch for several weeks
‘He was struggling this year. He could hardly walk. He was very sick. Then he got the blood clots. That was pretty scary,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘If they hadn’t got that when they did, who knows what would have happened? They got it at a good time, and they looked after him.’
It was the first time Cleary had missed a game in 16 years of coaching. He missed the first game of the season and another in Brisbane after he was banned from flying.
‘It’s a strange experience watching your team play live on the couch. It’s totally different to normal,’ the coach said.
‘When I got the blood clots, it was a bit of a scare, but I was in good hands. I had the best nurse in Australia [Bec] looking after me, so I was ok.’
In June, it was reported the Panthers coach was admitted to ICU to receive treatment for blood clots and was absent from several games following ‘medical advice’.
Cleary was spotted taking training on crutches last month and missed two games in June
Cleary’s son Nathan, the Panther’s star halfback, said it had been ‘special’ to celebrate with his father who has taken the team to three straight finals (pictured, the pair celebrate the win)
‘Cleary has been dealing with an ongoing knee infection, and underwent a second surgery on his knee this week,’ the club said in a statement at the time.
‘Following medical advice and with the long-term prognosis compromised, the head coach feels that by being in Brisbane wouldn’t add value to the team under the current circumstances.’
Cleary walked with a slight limp as he attended the NRL Grand Final 2022, where the Panthers triumphed against the Parramatta Eels, winning 28-12.
The win marks Penrith’s second consecutive premiership with assistant coaches Cameron Ciraldo and Andrew Webster stepping up in Cleary’s place.
Players said they had known their coach was unwell with five-eighth Jarome Luai revealing that despite his condition Cleary continued to attend training sessions.
‘He kept trying to come to games and show that he was alright,’ he told The Herald.
‘We sort of knew he was going to get through it. We kept him in our prayers.’
Cleary’s family were forced to put on a united front as the 51-year-old watched games from his living room after taking a step back from active coaching duty (pictured, Nathan with his mother Bec and his siblings Milaya, Jet and Indi at the 2021 Grand Final)
‘He was struggling this year. He could hardly walk. He was very sick. Then he got the blood clots. That was pretty scary,’ Cleary’s wife Bec said of her husband (pictured, the pair in 2021)
Cleary’s son Nathan, the Panther’s star halfback, said it had been ‘special’ to celebrate with his father who has taken the team to three straight finals.
Last year, he led the Panthers to their third premiership as Penrith beat South Sydney 14-12 in the Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Nathan was spotted on his way home from NRL grand final celebrations wearing ski goggles after spending the night partying with teammates.
The 24-year-old was seen leaving Penrith Leagues Club shirtless early on Monday morning ahead of Mad Monday events.
Penrith Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary (above) emerged shirtless with KFC goggles from the Panthers League Club on Monday morning after NRL grand final win
‘I think it’s cool Para, and Penrith were able to present in a grand final, Western Sydney, you know, through and through. It’s never happened before. They’re both footy crazy. It’s pretty cool,’ he told reporters.
‘This is what you work hard for. At the start of the year, you have the goal to try to get to this stage just to compete for the final, and you know we did that this year.
‘We were lucky enough to win it. We’ve done it for the last three years. We lost one, won two. I definitely know what I prefer more.’
His teammates shared clips and photos of their wild victory night online.
Apisai Koroisau was pictured showing off premiership rings before being hilariously sledged by a fan for his plans to leave the team in 2023.
‘You won’t win them at the Tigers,’ Koroisau was told.
Along with his son Nathan (left), Cleary led the Panthers to their third premiership last year
Viliame Kikau will also leave the team next year alongside assistant coaches Andrew Webster and Cameron Ciraldo, who stepped up while Ivan Cleary was sick.
Panthers Chairman Matt Cameron said celebrations continued well into Monday morning, with the team finally able to celebrate a premiership on their home turf.
‘The boys came back last night and had a function. They’re still upstairs somewhere. We’re across the road at the stadium. It’s going to be a good day,’ he told Today.
‘Obviously in 2020 we did it with reduced capacities at the ground and at the leagues club in 2021 they were in Brisbane.
‘The community didn’t get to celebrate it the way they wanted to. Last night was a great opportunity. You have heard Ivan speak before, we pride ourselves on the club being a source of community pride. I think we were able to tick that box last night.’
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