NRL Grand Final 2022: Ivan Cleary tears, Penrith Panthers beat Parramatta Eels, Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards tackle

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary showed a different side to himself with an emotional outpouring following his side’s 28-12 Grand Final win to secure back-to-back NRL titles.

Cleary is a cool, calm and collected character, but he let his emotions spill out in the coach’s box and in the aftermath of his side’s dominant second straight win in the decider.

Michael Ennis noted how a proud Cleary let his emotions out after climbing the mountain again with his playing group.

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“You look at the composure and how measured Ivan Cleary is,” Ennis said.

“He hardly raised a decibel at all, all season, but that moment when you saw Dylan Edwards make that tackle on Simonsson, the reaction from him in the coach’s box showed a different side that we don’t often get to see.

“We understand how culturally connected he is to this playing group and seeing the emotion of him in those final moments with tears pouring down his face.

“It certainly means a lot more to Ivan than sometimes it is portrayed because he is so measured and calm, but that was a special moment I thought.”

Cooper Cronk believes Cleary should be commended for holding his team together all season and only letting the emotion come out after they clinched the title.

“The other part to it is he is the figurehead of his club,” Cronk said.

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Nathan Cleary and dad Ivan.Source: Getty Images

“The coach is the most important person when you are trying to win a competition.

“So if he is up and down and showing emotion and rattled, when you are trying to do something that not too many teams do and win back-to-back premierships, I think it is a good expression.

“I think it is process driven. It is not outcome driven. It is not emotion and the high highs and the low lows.

“It is this is what we need to do. Get the job done. And they played like that.

“There was obviously a lot of intensity and emotion and passion in what they did, but what they were trying to achieve never came into their performance.

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“They literally had a job to do like a robot and a machine and now the emotion comes out.

“They will let their hair down and they can sing whatever song they want to sing.”

A typically humble Cleary was happy to deflect praise on his players despite the fact he is just the second man behind Trent Robinson to lead his team to back-to-back premierships in the NRL era.

“It is an incredible night,” Cleary said.

“Hard to put my thoughts into words. So proud of the boys for everything they have done all year. But to be able to come out and probably play our best game of the year tonight, yes, so proud.”

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Cleary considers himself lucky to be in the position to coach such a great group of young players and men.

“It is so enjoyable,” Cleary said.

“Honestly, I feel so lucky. I’m so grateful I get to hang out with these guys every day. Honestly, just to see that performance tonight, it makes my job easy.”

Cleary believes the fact the Panthers had the experience of the last two grand finals helped them handle the occasion of a blockbuster decider against the Eels.

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“I think the fact we have been here before really helped,” Cleary said.

“I felt like I sort of learnt a couple of lessons along the way. We just executed the way we play.

“It was always going to be hard at the start but we kind of got through that period when I thought we handled it well. They were good too. To get the first try was good too.

“It just went on from there. They never ever let up probably near the end but I wasn’t really watching them at that stage.

“It was an unbelievable year. To be able to back up and just do it week in and week out, they are just so hungry. It is so good.”