Cleary to finish up as Panthers coach and end greatest modern-day NRL dynasty
Ivan Cleary has 18 months remaining in his current role at the Penrith Panthers before the four-time premiership-winning NRL coach steps aside and his assistant Peter Wallace takes over.The 55-year-old announced on Wednesday he would not renew his contract when it expires at the end of next season, but will remain in Penrith in an advisory role beyond 2027.He said he had mulled over the decision for the past 12 months.“It’s a decision that I haven’t taken lightly,” Cleary said.“But I’ve thought about [it] for quite a long time.
I feel like it’s definitely the right thing for me, my family and also the club.“Part of being a coach and leader, you kind of gain intuition over many years, and I feel really strongly that this is the right time for me to step aside.”Clearly indicated he would not coach another NRL club, but should a representative role become available, he would consider it, while the exact nature of his new role at the club is still subject to ongoing negotiations.“I’ve been a player or a coach for 35 years,” Cleary said.“It is more like a lifestyle than a job, so I’m definitely looking to branch out and use my skills, my knowledge and experience in other areas.
“Fortunately, though, the Panthers can’t get rid of me just yet.I’ve been offered a position to stay on in an advisory type role, through leadership and culture, and I’m very humbled by that.”The move threatens to spark the collapse of an Australian rugby league dynasty; under Cleary, in his second stint with the club, the Panthers claimed four straight premierships between 2021 and 2024.But he will step down with a number of players also off-contract at the end of next season, including his son Nathan Cleary, captain Isaah Yeo and representative back-rower Liam Martin.Panthers chair Peter Graham stated that the goal was to “keep every one of those players at this club” but Cleary said the uncertainty played a part in announcing his intention to leave so far in advance.
“Why now? Basically, just to give everyone clarity moving forward, and also … we’ve got a lot of players off contract,” he said,“It’s just the contracting model and what we have to live with,“Honestly, I would prefer not to have had to say anything for some time, but ultimately, my decision’s made, so why not? It also gives Peter a good lead in to the job, particularly next year,“I feel like I’ll be able to help him a lot in that sense,I’m sort of passionate about trying to help a first time coach.
”Having fallen to defeat to eventual premiers Brisbane at the preliminary final stage last year, the Panthers currently sit atop the NRL ladder, having lost just once so far this season.They face the rock-bottom Dragons this weekend, when they are expected to pocket a 10th win out of 11 games.“This is not a time for thank yous or reflections, I still have 18 months in the saddle, so to speak.I honestly woke up this morning thinking about the Dragons and how we’re going to beat them this week,” Cleary said.
‘Hold the line’: Burnham tells allies in parliament he still has options to return
Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs they should hold the line and that he has options to return to parliament after several seats identified by his allies failed to materialise.Two seats that backers of the Greater Manchester mayor had described as “nailed on” as recently as Monday night are now out of contention after the MPs concerned got cold feet.Burnham spoke to a number of MPs by phone on Tuesday and assured them that he still intended to seek an imminent return to parliament.The Guardian was told by two MPs on Wednesday that Jeff Smith, who represents Manchester Withington, an affluent suburb of the city, was in talks about stepping aside for Burnham, but his friends denied it. Asked whether he was about to make way, Smith told the Press Association he was not
‘It’s more incrementalism’: Starmer’s safe king’s speech fails to quell mutiny
For Keir Starmer’s Labour critics, his second king’s speech, in which the government set out what it would do in parliament over the next 12 to 18 months, was a crystallisation of everything that was wrong with the prime minister’s strategy.Over 34 bills and three draft ones, Starmer set out a programme he said would “make this country stronger and fairer”. But the package, which included limiting trial by jury, reshaping the NHS and moving the country closer to the EU, fell short of what some in the prime minister’s party feel is needed to win back voters’ trust.“Most of this is incrementalism,” said one Labour MP. “This sums up where we have gone wrong in the first two years in government
Starmer has ‘full confidence’ in Streeting despite health secretary’s allies saying he is planning to resign – as it happened
Downing Street has now confirmed that Wes Streeting is still health secretary. The PM’s spokesperson told reporters the prime minister has “full confidence” in the health secretary.Allies of Wes Streeting have said he is preparing to stand down as health secretary amid deep frustration with Keir Starmer’s leadership, and could mount a formal challenge for the leadership as early as Thursday.Keir Starmer has put long-promised changes to education, health and the courts at the heart of his agenda for the next year, as the embattled prime minister looks to prove he can enact the scale of change being demanded by Labour MPs and voters. There were 37 bills in the speech
Labour politicians should put the country before their party | Letters
As an active and loyal Labour member, I am infuriated by what is happening within the party (Burnham allies warn against quick ‘coronation’ of Streeting if Starmer quits, 12 May). The ongoing circus about the leadership is a terrible distraction from the numerous global and national issues that the government and the prime minister should be focused on. But the most infuriating aspect of the entire shambles is the relentless speculation and briefings from so-called “allies” of Andy Burham.No Labour member has an innate right to be selected as a parliamentary candidate. The assertion that a sitting Labour MP should give up the seat voters elected them to, necessitating a byelection so that Burnham can run, then assuming that he would automatically retain the seat, is arrogance beyond belief
Labour lost the vote of small business owners like me | Letter
Your report (Reform wins across northern England overturn decades of Labour control, 8 May) touched on Labour losing support among small business owners. I wanted to offer the perspective of a small independent business owner who has traditionally supported Labour.Labour’s poor local election results may reflect a growing frustration among small business owners who no longer feel recognised as “working people”. In hospitality, hair and beauty, retail and trades, there are thousands upon thousands of us keeping local economies alive while taking home increasingly modest incomes ourselves.Last year, our small independent restaurant in Margate turned over roughly £350,000
King’s speech might be the last word on Starmer as reluctant monarch does his duty | John Crace
The king looked fed up. His attempts to throw a sickie had come to nothing. Did the government really want to go ahead with the state opening? Apparently it did. Would it be OK if he phoned it in? He fancied a day working from palace. It wouldn’t be OK
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