Initially a harmless message aimed at flushing out the nay-sayers, Ivan Cleary will never be able to live down his famous three-word slogan: ‘On the bus’.
Especially after reports place the outbound Tigers coach at the foot of the mountains next season, with the club reportedly close to triggering an early release following news Cleary has agreed to join the Panthers in 2021.
At the time, Cleary had no idea how his words would come back to bite him.
MORE: Michael Maguire rejects lucrative Manly offer as potential vacancies open up at Tigers and Broncos
"It was a bit of a throwaway line," Cleary told The Sydney Morning Herald last year.
"But I used the line because, rightly or wrongly, it wasn't clear whether some players wanted to be there or they didn't. All I know is that if you're going to be successful, you want to be there and be part of it. Be connected.
"I don't know why everyone jumped on board, why they got on top of it.They just did.
"It's OK. I'm happy with that."
The metaphorical bus Cleary once created, and will now hop off, is at the centre of a running joke between frustrated Wests Tigers fans who feel betrayed after putting their faith in the man tipped to rebuild the club from the ashes.
Some even accused him of being a hypocrite after he publicly lashed Mitchell Moses for failing to pledge his full commitment to the bus – something Cleary is now unable to do.
Live footage of Ivan Cleary negotiating a release from the Tigers. #offthebus pic.twitter.com/RBo7QmphL8
— Jono (@nqc_jono) October 4, 2018
Dunno why Ivan Cleary so desperately wants to coach his son...I've coached my son in two sports and he doesn't listen to me and just mucks around with his team mates...it's a bloody nightmare #offthebus
— Trent Glover (@trent_glover) October 4, 2018
When pressed on Ivan Cleary ...
— The Magic Man (@CamGreg1) October 4, 2018
"The bus was only temporary anyway, our new coach will have an Opal card & an Uber account."
Wests Tigers official, circa late last night. #NRL #Respect
You know what’s hilarious about this Ivan Cleary situation?
— The Judge (@J_Swish20) October 4, 2018
The stink he caused when Mitch Moses wanted to break his contract. Ivan thought if you sign a contract, you should honour it and not be allowed to break it halfway through 🤷🏼♂️#TheBusIsLeaving
😂😂😂🙄🙄🙄
Jason taylor: "im the most hated tigers coach ever"
— Stefan sucur (@ssucur_89) October 4, 2018
Ivan cleary: "hold my beer"
Tigers are off the bus and on the mobility scooter... Via @LukeWaskowski pic.twitter.com/ue7xKzAstO
— absolutely the (not) real* Prior (@suthodan) October 4, 2018
Ivan Cleary will lose so much respect over this. He was the bloke that implored players to jump on the bus. He will never live it down.
— Observer (@rugby_whisperer) October 4, 2018
Cleary will now crawl back to the club that once sacked him, putting his pride aside to coach his son Nathan in a once in a lifetime opportunity.
It has set alight a coaching merry-go-round that could see Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett immediately move to Concord to prolong his lengthy coaching career, leaving the Broncos job on a plate for former Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire.
Bennett is unwanted at Red Hill beyond 2019 but has expressed his desire to continue coaching and may not have a window of opportunity again in the NRL if he denies the Tigers.
Maguire has recently rejected a lucrative offer from Manly as he focuses on upcoming Tests with the Kiwis, however the soon-to-be vacant Broncos role has his name all over it.
