Andrew Johns says he can't understand why Ivan and Nathan Cleary want to work together

Daniel Ramus

Andrew Johns says he can't understand why Ivan and Nathan Cleary want to work together image

Immortal Andrew Johns has questioned the idea of Ivan Cleary linking up with Penrith to coach his son Nathan.

Panthers halfback Nathan recently re-signed with the club on a mammoth multi-million dollar five-year deal until the end of season 2024.

Wests Tigers coach Ivan is contracted to the joint venture until the end of season 2020.

But Ivan has reportedly agreed to coach Penrith from 2021 onwards.

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There is even speculation Ivan will be released from the final two years of his Tigers contract and join his son at the Panthers over the off-season.

Johns, however, can't understand the pair's keenness to join forces.

"I sort of find it interesting that Nathan and Ivan want to work with each other," Johns told Wide World of Sports.



"I just think, me personally, I would have hated to have been coached by my father.

"I would have absolutely hated it."

Johns says it would create an awkward situation for Nathan if other players criticise Ivan when the coach isn't present, and vice versa.

"There's times when the players want to give it to the coach for whatever reason," he added.

"I don't know how it'd be if Nathan was somewhere after training and one of the players got dropped and was like, 'You know what, Ivan's such a Wally' - you know what I mean.

"Nathan hears that, and you hear someone bagging your father, and it can be sort of hard to put a difference on whether he's talking about your dad as a person or as a coach.

"And I'm sure there's times when a coach gets home and says, 'What about Joe Bloggs? He doesn't do this, he doesn't do that. He's a pain in the backside. He doesn't listen.'

"And then that's one of Nathan's good friends. I find it intriguing how they'd like to work together but they seem a very close family and I saw after the Origin they went up (to each other) and were very emotional.

"So I wish them all the well."

Daniel Ramus