Panthers ‘secure extended deals for father-son duo Ivan and Nathan Cleary worth $10MILLION’

Father-son duo Ivan and Nathan Cleary have committed their future to the Panthers with the pair signing deals worth a combined $10million, according to reports. 

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary guided the club to the premiership last season, seeing off Manly Sea Eagles in the grand final, while the future of his son Nathan has been the subject of speculation with his current deal expiring in 2024.

While the 24-year-old would likely pocket a heftier salary from other clubs than the $1.1m-a-year on offer at Penrith, understood to be around $1.3m, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that he would prefer to play his footy with his mates and under the watchful eye of his father. 

Nathan (L) and Ivan (R) Cleary have reportedly committed their futures to the Penrith Panthers 

The new five-year extension would all-but lock the half back in for life, with him being in his 30s by the time the deal expires. 

Meanwhile, Ivan has one more season left on his contract but the Premiership-winning coach – who secured his 100th win in charge of the Panthers in Round 1, is expected to put pen to paper on a new deal that will make him one of the highest paid coaches in the NRL, taking home a seven-figure salary.  

There had been speculation that the 51-year-old was considering retirement after his triumph last year, but the latest report seemingly puts those rumours to bed.

‘Why wouldn’t we want them both at the club long term?,’ Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher told The Herald.

Cleary has agreed a five-year deal worth $1.1m-per-year, snubbing lucrative offers elsewhere 

Coach Ivan Cleary has rubbished retirement talk to commit his future at Penrith until 2027

‘The board is unanimous in keeping them as a pair as long as we possibly can.

‘They are a huge part of Panthers, and we’re doing what we can to make sure that continues. There’s not much more I can say.’

A press conference involving both Clearys, chief executive Fletcher, rugby league chief executive Matt Cameron and new chairman Peter Graham has been called for Wednesday, where an announcement is expected.

Nathan is on course to become Penrith’s greatest ever player, notching up 1040 points after just 120 NRL games, sitting behind Ryan Girdler (1690) and Greg Alexander (1100).

He could also eclipse Steve Carter’s record of 248 games for the Panthers, and should he remain injury-free, he could become the club’s first player to pass 300 appearances.