"Ivan made a decision and we made a decision to keep him on for the rest of the year, which a lot of people in the media questioned. He has come through and done a great job."
Yes, he has. And next year he'll be doing a great job at Penrith. That hasn't pleased everyone at the Warriors. John Hart, Cleary's long-time mentor, is said to be particularly displeased more wasn't done to keep Cleary.
Scurrah, though, remains comfortable with the way things have panned out. While it's debatable how hard the club tried to keep Cleary - he was granted his release during a four-match losing streak and pointedly refused to answer questions about what he would have done had the Warriors matched Penrith's terms - Scurrah ultimately lays the decision to leave at Cleary's door.
"Ivan got approached by Penrith and he ultimately decided that that is what he wanted to take up," Scurrah said. "It wasn't our decision to go and talk to someone else. John [Hart] might be disappointed but at the end of the day someone has made the decision to be somewhere else. We have appointed a great coach going forward and the club is in fantastic shape."
Scurrah also believed the decision to release Cleary and to keep him on until the end of the season had had a positive impact on the side's form.
"There [are] clearly a lot of people playing for people like Ivan and Lance [Hohaia]. Those things have had a positive impact. You can clearly see the results over the back half of the season so the announcement and the decisions certainly haven't affected the club in a negative way," he said.
"You can't have regrets about things that are done.
"Ivan decided to go."
It is a touch ironic that Krisnan Inu, the player who Cleary perhaps had the least time for, has had the biggest impact on his legacy. Had Inu not scrambled the ball over the line in the dying moments last week against the Tigers, Cleary's departure wouldn't have created much fuss. But Inu did produce his magic and on such things perceptions swing.
"If you look at it positively the club is in great shape for the future and Ivan's career is in great shape for the future and I think that is fantastic," Scurrah said.
"The club is about more than one person . There are a lot of good people at the club, a lot of good coaching staff. Ivan has done an absolutely terrific job but we are focused on this week."
As is his way, Cleary isn't about to dwell on how this latest swing of fortune will affect perception of him.
Asked how he felt about Sunday's grand final being his last game with the club, he said: "Pretty good mate."
