Ivan Cleary experienced plenty of ups and downs during his time at the Warriors, and he looked almost apologetic after his side added to Brian McClennan's problems today. Photo / Getty Images.
Ivan Cleary experienced plenty of ups and downs during his time at the Warriors, and the Penrith coach looked almost apologetic after his side added to Brian McClennan's problems today.
Cleary coached at Mt Smart for five years and led the Warriors to the grand final last season. His return
to his former club coincided with the sixth successive defeat for the Warriors but he maintained his trademark straight face afterwards.
"It wasn't the world's best game was it," was Cleary's opening thoughts.
"It's just good to win, we haven't done it too often."
This was only the Panthers' seventh win of the season and broke a two-loss sequence. The match, played between two obviously out-of-form sides, suffered for its lack of quality. Cleary's side gifted the Warriors two tries in the opening half and bombed three of their own but had enough belief to keep striving and that persistence paid off.
