What do you think?
Rate this book
Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters
How connection and courage teach us to win - an NRL leadership story, from the history-making coach who pulled off the impossible to inspire, mentor and lead a grassroots club to the pinnacle of performance and become the undisputed champions of the league
It's described as the greatest achievement the modern game has seen, and Ivan Cleary is the man behind it - the astonishing, historic benchmark of multiple back-to-back premiership wins by the Penrith Panthers in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
In his own words, Cleary tells all about what he's learned and how he leads, informed by his decades as a player and coach - a playmaker, team builder, mentor and leader who understands that not everything counts, but everything matters. Drawing on his years of experience - professional and personal - Cleary shares insights into his success, including the value of persistence, the power of culture, community and connection, facing your fears and tackling them head-on, the architecture of achievement - and the importance of risking it all.
He also delves deep into his work with one of the most diverse teams in the league, the challenges he faces as leader, and how to inspire a team of individuals to hall-of-fame team greatness, including working with his son, Nathan, the Panthers co-captain, regarded as the best player in the league, as well as the young, talented players who have come up through the local club and the superstar players who represent the exciting and changing face of the game.
With a foreword by former All Blacks coach John Hart, an afterword from Nathan Cleary, and insights from Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau and former Panthers Head of Performance Hayden Knowles, this powerful book reveals how to create a champion team.
It's described as the greatest achievement the modern game has seen, and Ivan Cleary is the man behind it - the astonishing, historic benchmark of multiple back-to-back premiership wins by the Penrith Panthers in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
In his own words, Cleary tells all about what he's learned and how he leads, informed by his decades as a player and coach - a playmaker, team builder, mentor and leader who understands that not everything counts, but everything matters. Drawing on his years of experience - professional and personal - Cleary shares insights into his success, including the value of persistence, the power of culture, community and connection, facing your fears and tackling them head-on, the architecture of achievement - and the importance of risking it all.
He also delves deep into his work with one of the most diverse teams in the league, the challenges he faces as leader, and how to inspire a team of individuals to hall-of-fame team greatness, including working with his son, Nathan, the Panthers co-captain, regarded as the best player in the league, as well as the young, talented players who have come up through the local club and the superstar players who represent the exciting and changing face of the game.
With a foreword by former All Blacks coach John Hart, an afterword from Nathan Cleary, and insights from Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau and former Panthers Head of Performance Hayden Knowles, this powerful book reveals how to create a champion team.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 8, 2025
Great read if you’re a Panthers fan or into the NRL. There’s some good leadership stuff in it, but nothing new that hasn’t been said before in other leadership books.
March 17, 2025
I really do love a sports memoir, and it is so interesting to read about coaching. The NRL is such a demanding, high intensity competition, and the pressure faced by coaches is pretty relentless. Reading about how Clearly has overcome some significant challenges, pivoted, and built a formidable club culture at Penrith was compelling. A niche interest for me, but to be lapped up by all other fans of the greatest game on earth.
February 16, 2025
I listened to this one. It's such a great insight into the game of rugby league and arguably the best team of the modern era. I loved the detail Ivan goes into about strategy, philosophy and team culture. I enjoyed the narration too.
September 15, 2025
What stood out most wasn’t just the success stories, but how openly he talks about the mental struggles that come with pressure, self-doubt, and burnout. It’s refreshing to see someone at the top of their game admit the hard parts and show that resilience comes from being honest about how you’re really feeling.
June 30, 2025
Up the wahs
November 25, 2024
Absolutely loved this book and I’m not a panthers fan. I didn’t know that much about Ivan Cleary before reading this book but it is clear he is a brilliant modern sport leader and has some great advice for living and going for your goals. An advocate for mental health and family and a man that so many could learn from. This was a great read.
January 28, 2025
"When the team wins, it's the players and when the team loses, it's the coach."
As many of you know I am obsessed with rugby league and have been counting down the days until the 2025 season starts up again! When @ange told me about Ivan's book I couldn't wait to dive in and what a wonderful memoir it was!
It was such an amazing journey to see what it took to get the Panthers to where they are currently and the inner monologue of one of the most aspiring and confident coaches in the NRL. The bravery Ivan showed talking about his mental struggles was so special to read knowing those who are achieving so much can still have their dark days.
Really loved the chapters that we got an input of Ivan from others eyes through John Hart, Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau and the afterword by Nathan Cleary.
If you're missing the NRL season as much as me or would just like to see inside the life of one of the greatest coaches of our time I definitely recommend giving this memoir a go 💜
As many of you know I am obsessed with rugby league and have been counting down the days until the 2025 season starts up again! When @ange told me about Ivan's book I couldn't wait to dive in and what a wonderful memoir it was!
It was such an amazing journey to see what it took to get the Panthers to where they are currently and the inner monologue of one of the most aspiring and confident coaches in the NRL. The bravery Ivan showed talking about his mental struggles was so special to read knowing those who are achieving so much can still have their dark days.
Really loved the chapters that we got an input of Ivan from others eyes through John Hart, Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau and the afterword by Nathan Cleary.
If you're missing the NRL season as much as me or would just like to see inside the life of one of the greatest coaches of our time I definitely recommend giving this memoir a go 💜
November 4, 2024
This is was a such a hands down a really good book to any Panthers fans or NRL lovers I loved it Comming from a Panthers fan I loved this book so much things you didn’t even know about the life of Ivan one of the best coaches is in this book. written by himself we get to find out his struggles and how he got from being not such a good coach to a top class 4 peat winner. Overall such the best book I have read so far.
April 3, 2025
If you like a bit of philosophy thrown in with the odd footy yarn then this book is the ticket. An easy read that, with a bit of thought and reflection, packs a punch about the right way to go about things.
January 23, 2025
This is a bias review.
Great insight and a good read.
Great insight and a good read.
January 14, 2026
A great read , a truly remarkable journey he has had.
January 14, 2025
outstanding insight to the best coach in the modern NRL era.
October 27, 2025
Daddy Iv providing the goods with this biography. I love everything Panthers. Loss of a star from the repetitions throughout the book. Felt like they were trying to hit a higher word count.
March 2, 2026
Audiobook x
Really loved the honesty about Ivan’s own mental health struggles and what he was thinking through the sport.
But got bored of him juts defending Panthers players doing stupid things tbh
Really loved the honesty about Ivan’s own mental health struggles and what he was thinking through the sport.
But got bored of him juts defending Panthers players doing stupid things tbh
October 8, 2025
Great read
June 1, 2026
A great read for fans of Rugby League. Ivan brings a fresh approach to coaching in the NRL, showing how clear values, trust, connection, and vulnerability are essential to building and leading a high performing team. I’ve enjoyed reading his reflections of his own journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way, however for me this book captured (outside of a corporate context) just how much work goes in to initiating a major culture shift, sustaining that culture, and how it has contributed to the Panthers’ hard & fast success over the past five years.
May 29, 2025
I'm a big rugby league fan and although not a Panthers, I'd admire their four-peat. Four successive NRL premiership titles. This book was recommended to me but I had a problem with the title from the start which may have coloured my opinion of the book. My pro Bulldogs - that's my team - attitude may have had an impact as well.
One thing I don't like about sports writing and commentary is the overuse of cliches. It's comical to lesson to people (experts) use the same words over and over again, sometimes even when they don't apply to the player or the situation.
Anyway, I digress. This book with a long title I could never remember to say properly, is a bit dull. It does contain some interesting background stuff about the players, tactics, and team ethos, but mostly it could have been about any team and written b anyone. The fact it was released on the eve of the Panther's attempt to win a fourth successive NRL title was clearly an attempt to sell something based on a trend rather than a high quality insight into winning.
I liked the layout of the book a lot; the sections whole page quotes, and the photos, but the most of the content was boring and cliched.
One thing I don't like about sports writing and commentary is the overuse of cliches. It's comical to lesson to people (experts) use the same words over and over again, sometimes even when they don't apply to the player or the situation.
Anyway, I digress. This book with a long title I could never remember to say properly, is a bit dull. It does contain some interesting background stuff about the players, tactics, and team ethos, but mostly it could have been about any team and written b anyone. The fact it was released on the eve of the Panther's attempt to win a fourth successive NRL title was clearly an attempt to sell something based on a trend rather than a high quality insight into winning.
I liked the layout of the book a lot; the sections whole page quotes, and the photos, but the most of the content was boring and cliched.
July 9, 2026
I read this as a fan of Ivan Cleary since he made his first-grade debut as a replacement for Matthew Ridge. It has been fascinating to watch him develop from a dependable first-grade player into the most successful coach of his generation. This is written differently to a typical sporting biography and, like Brad Thorn's Champions Do Extra, straddles the self-help genre. Each chapter focuses on a quality or mindset required for success, first explaining the principle and then illustrating it with examples drawn from Cleary's career.
The book is divided into four parts: Culture, Leadership, The Game, and Winning. Cleary repeatedly expresses that he values moral qualities when selecting his team. At the elite level everyone has talent. He wants players who are reliable and consistent, who bring intensity and effort to everything they do. He values both physical and emotional courage, recognising that players risk being embarrassed in the most public manner every weekend and having everyone talking about them negatively. Cleary also makes a virtue of playing through injury despite the pain.
I was particularly interested in the contrast between Cleary's philosophy and the contemporary emphasis on vulnerability. "I love it when a quality Test batsman gets hit by a fast bowler's thunderbolt but shows absolutely no pain. Anyone who's been hit by a cricket ball understands how much it hurts, but players like Justin Langer simply wouldn't allow themselves to even wince. To do so would give the bowler a psychological advantage" (p. 36). He then goes on to discuss the importance of sessions where players bond by being interviewed in front of the playing group, where trust and honesty are demanded. "Trust is hard to create but very easy to lose. The uphill climb is long but the downhill fall is fast, as they say" (p. 39). Cleary's point is not that vulnerability is always desirable or always undesirable, but that wisdom lies in knowing when to reveal one's struggles and when emotional discipline better serves both the individual and the team.
Cleary also benefited enormously from his time with the Warriors as a player. It gave him an appreciation of Polynesian culture long before he became a coach. When he debuted in 1992, less than five per cent of NRL players were Polynesian; today it is over forty per cent. Developing an understanding of this culture became an important part of his coaching philosophy, particularly his appreciation of the concept of mana. "The Polynesian word mana is hard to translate into English. It means status, prestige, power – but there's a lot more to it than that. It's a kind of supernatural force, a spiritual charisma, that gives a person the authority to lead. You can be born with mana, in the same way that a person can be a born leader, but you can also attract mana to you by earning the respect of others. A tribe gives mana to its chief, and a powerful chief brings mana to their tribe. Mana grows with success, but it can also be lost through defeat."
Cleary openly discusses being treated for depression, his decision to use medication, and the importance of his wife Bec as the foundation of his life. She supported him long before he became a first-grade footballer, even loaning him money early in his career, and remained a constant source of emotional support throughout his coaching journey. He also reflects on his relationship with Phil Gould. Cleary acknowledges Gould's enormous influence on his development and is generous in recognising the opportunities Gould created for him. However, he also explains that a condition of his return to Penrith was that Gould would have no control or influence over his coaching decisions. If only Cameron Ciraldo had been wise enough to insist on the same condition at Canterbury.
One of the most fascinating sections concerns Cleary's decision to move on James Maloney, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Wayde Egan and Kaide Ellis at the end of the 2019 season. Cleary believed the Panthers needed a genuine cultural reset and that this would create space for emerging leaders such as Api Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Matt Burton, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Liam Martin and, of course, his son Nathan. What stands out is that Cleary was prepared to sacrifice proven representative players because he believed long-term culture was more important than short-term talent. Many of those younger players have since departed Penrith, yet the culture Cleary established has remained intact. As a Warriors supporter, I couldn't help noticing that two of the players moved on—Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Wayde Egan—eventually became Warriors. Hopefully they developed the qualities Cleary believed were necessary after 2019.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciated its attempt to understand the qualities and habits that produce sustained success rather than merely recounting the events of Cleary's career. I found myself agreeing with many of his conclusions, particularly those that run contrary to the contemporary zeitgeist. His emphasis on discipline, responsibility, resilience, earned respect and delayed gratification reminded me of Nietzsche's distinction between herd morality and the pursuit of excellence embodied in the Übermensch. Whether Cleary would accept that comparison is another question, but both reject the notion that comfort and the avoidance of hardship are the path to personal growth. As Cleary demonstrates throughout this book, everything may not count, but everything matters.
The book is divided into four parts: Culture, Leadership, The Game, and Winning. Cleary repeatedly expresses that he values moral qualities when selecting his team. At the elite level everyone has talent. He wants players who are reliable and consistent, who bring intensity and effort to everything they do. He values both physical and emotional courage, recognising that players risk being embarrassed in the most public manner every weekend and having everyone talking about them negatively. Cleary also makes a virtue of playing through injury despite the pain.
I was particularly interested in the contrast between Cleary's philosophy and the contemporary emphasis on vulnerability. "I love it when a quality Test batsman gets hit by a fast bowler's thunderbolt but shows absolutely no pain. Anyone who's been hit by a cricket ball understands how much it hurts, but players like Justin Langer simply wouldn't allow themselves to even wince. To do so would give the bowler a psychological advantage" (p. 36). He then goes on to discuss the importance of sessions where players bond by being interviewed in front of the playing group, where trust and honesty are demanded. "Trust is hard to create but very easy to lose. The uphill climb is long but the downhill fall is fast, as they say" (p. 39). Cleary's point is not that vulnerability is always desirable or always undesirable, but that wisdom lies in knowing when to reveal one's struggles and when emotional discipline better serves both the individual and the team.
Cleary also benefited enormously from his time with the Warriors as a player. It gave him an appreciation of Polynesian culture long before he became a coach. When he debuted in 1992, less than five per cent of NRL players were Polynesian; today it is over forty per cent. Developing an understanding of this culture became an important part of his coaching philosophy, particularly his appreciation of the concept of mana. "The Polynesian word mana is hard to translate into English. It means status, prestige, power – but there's a lot more to it than that. It's a kind of supernatural force, a spiritual charisma, that gives a person the authority to lead. You can be born with mana, in the same way that a person can be a born leader, but you can also attract mana to you by earning the respect of others. A tribe gives mana to its chief, and a powerful chief brings mana to their tribe. Mana grows with success, but it can also be lost through defeat."
Cleary openly discusses being treated for depression, his decision to use medication, and the importance of his wife Bec as the foundation of his life. She supported him long before he became a first-grade footballer, even loaning him money early in his career, and remained a constant source of emotional support throughout his coaching journey. He also reflects on his relationship with Phil Gould. Cleary acknowledges Gould's enormous influence on his development and is generous in recognising the opportunities Gould created for him. However, he also explains that a condition of his return to Penrith was that Gould would have no control or influence over his coaching decisions. If only Cameron Ciraldo had been wise enough to insist on the same condition at Canterbury.
One of the most fascinating sections concerns Cleary's decision to move on James Maloney, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Wayde Egan and Kaide Ellis at the end of the 2019 season. Cleary believed the Panthers needed a genuine cultural reset and that this would create space for emerging leaders such as Api Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Matt Burton, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Liam Martin and, of course, his son Nathan. What stands out is that Cleary was prepared to sacrifice proven representative players because he believed long-term culture was more important than short-term talent. Many of those younger players have since departed Penrith, yet the culture Cleary established has remained intact. As a Warriors supporter, I couldn't help noticing that two of the players moved on—Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Wayde Egan—eventually became Warriors. Hopefully they developed the qualities Cleary believed were necessary after 2019.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciated its attempt to understand the qualities and habits that produce sustained success rather than merely recounting the events of Cleary's career. I found myself agreeing with many of his conclusions, particularly those that run contrary to the contemporary zeitgeist. His emphasis on discipline, responsibility, resilience, earned respect and delayed gratification reminded me of Nietzsche's distinction between herd morality and the pursuit of excellence embodied in the Übermensch. Whether Cleary would accept that comparison is another question, but both reject the notion that comfort and the avoidance of hardship are the path to personal growth. As Cleary demonstrates throughout this book, everything may not count, but everything matters.
May 23, 2026
Listened to this. Great book on leadership, connection and culture. He touches on his struggles with mental health and how coaching takes a toll, which is insightful. Would recommend to anyone who wants to know how to win and keep winning.
January 1, 2026
While most footy players release autobiographies near the end of their career or after they retire, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has done something different.
Not only has he released a book while in the middle of the one of the most successful coaching runs in the NRL era, but "Not Everything Counts..." is closer to Wayne Bennett's self-help/motivation books ("Don't Die with the Music in You", "The Man in the Mirror") where he uses footy as a template for lessons about coaching and leadership.
Cleary focuses on the 2019-2024 period, where he re-joined Penrith and started their four-premiership run. Footy fans interested in the Xs and Os will enjoy the grand final chapters: especially 2023 when he describes how Penrith pulled off one of the greatest grand final comebacks against Brisbane.
Cleary is refreshingly open about his coaching methods, how he deals with the media pressures and coaching his son, and his own mental health battles.
This is a must read for footy fans (and you don't have to support Penrith to enjoy it) or those interested in leadership or self-help/motivation.
Not only has he released a book while in the middle of the one of the most successful coaching runs in the NRL era, but "Not Everything Counts..." is closer to Wayne Bennett's self-help/motivation books ("Don't Die with the Music in You", "The Man in the Mirror") where he uses footy as a template for lessons about coaching and leadership.
Cleary focuses on the 2019-2024 period, where he re-joined Penrith and started their four-premiership run. Footy fans interested in the Xs and Os will enjoy the grand final chapters: especially 2023 when he describes how Penrith pulled off one of the greatest grand final comebacks against Brisbane.
Cleary is refreshingly open about his coaching methods, how he deals with the media pressures and coaching his son, and his own mental health battles.
This is a must read for footy fans (and you don't have to support Penrith to enjoy it) or those interested in leadership or self-help/motivation.
November 25, 2024
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: Resilient Rugby Tales
- - -
I’ve been working my way through a wide variety of sporting memoirs this year - surfing, swimming, AFL, tennis, paddling, boxing and now NRL!
While I’ll always be an AFL girl at heart, I’ve found myself enjoying watching the occasional NRL game over the past few years (even though I still can’t understand the rules of the game 😅) particularly following the success of the Penrith Panthers. So when I spotted Ivan Cleary’s book, I knew I had to dive in.
This wasn’t a traditional memoir but rather a thoughtful reflection on key moments and experiences that have shaped Ivan’s career and leadership style. His no nonsense approach to communication and leadership resonated deeply with me. Ivan’s honesty, particularly about his battle with depression, added an extra layer of depth and relatability to his story.
The book also featured contributions from others in Ivan’s life and career, highlighting the immense respect and admiration he has earned. Hearing how his leadership has influenced so many was inspiring.
While I didn’t fully understand all the sporting details, not being an NRL expert, that didn’t detract from my overall experience. This was an intelligent and inspiring read (or listen in my case, brilliantly narrated by Tamblyn Lord) that I believe even a non NRL fan could enjoy and learn from.
Summed Up: Resilient Rugby Tales
- - -
I’ve been working my way through a wide variety of sporting memoirs this year - surfing, swimming, AFL, tennis, paddling, boxing and now NRL!
While I’ll always be an AFL girl at heart, I’ve found myself enjoying watching the occasional NRL game over the past few years (even though I still can’t understand the rules of the game 😅) particularly following the success of the Penrith Panthers. So when I spotted Ivan Cleary’s book, I knew I had to dive in.
This wasn’t a traditional memoir but rather a thoughtful reflection on key moments and experiences that have shaped Ivan’s career and leadership style. His no nonsense approach to communication and leadership resonated deeply with me. Ivan’s honesty, particularly about his battle with depression, added an extra layer of depth and relatability to his story.
The book also featured contributions from others in Ivan’s life and career, highlighting the immense respect and admiration he has earned. Hearing how his leadership has influenced so many was inspiring.
While I didn’t fully understand all the sporting details, not being an NRL expert, that didn’t detract from my overall experience. This was an intelligent and inspiring read (or listen in my case, brilliantly narrated by Tamblyn Lord) that I believe even a non NRL fan could enjoy and learn from.
January 7, 2026
two worlds collide - love of reading and love of nrl!!
as a bandwagoner who started enjoying this sport in 2023, a lot of this information was brand new to me. I started watching mid panthers dynasty so I didn't really have a true appreciation for what they'd achieved, they were always the team to beat in my eyes, however pulling back the curtain was very enlightening
Add me to the Ivan Cleary fan club as he is truly such a sweetie. His view on pacific island values and how they contribute to the game/player was so well articulated and he constantly referenced how important his wife Bec has been in every step of the journey.
This made me excited for 2026 season - to catch some of the principles Ivan speaks out in action (I.e never let your opponent get a psychological edge, like seeing you tired with hands on knees). P.s: was the warriors letting Ivan go one of the all time biggest fumbles??
as a bandwagoner who started enjoying this sport in 2023, a lot of this information was brand new to me. I started watching mid panthers dynasty so I didn't really have a true appreciation for what they'd achieved, they were always the team to beat in my eyes, however pulling back the curtain was very enlightening
Add me to the Ivan Cleary fan club as he is truly such a sweetie. His view on pacific island values and how they contribute to the game/player was so well articulated and he constantly referenced how important his wife Bec has been in every step of the journey.
This made me excited for 2026 season - to catch some of the principles Ivan speaks out in action (I.e never let your opponent get a psychological edge, like seeing you tired with hands on knees). P.s: was the warriors letting Ivan go one of the all time biggest fumbles??
December 13, 2025
Loved it! One of my favourite reads this year.
As a Panthers fan, it was a great experience to be able to read about Ivan's personal wins and struggles, his coaching journey, and also insights and tales from our run of 4 premierships in a row.
Really enjoyed Ivan outlining the themes the team used leading into finals runs (makes me wish he'd write a quick follow up regarding the 2025 finals runs and how losing the penultimate game was integrated, I can't imagine Ivan just giving up on the theme, whatever it was!). Also liked the insight into grounding habits of players to stay present in the game, like stomping feet. Good lesson for us all I think!
I listened to the audiobook (the narrator even sounded like Ivan!) and I'm keen to get my hands on a physical copy from the library to revisit some of the themes and ideas.
As a Panthers fan, it was a great experience to be able to read about Ivan's personal wins and struggles, his coaching journey, and also insights and tales from our run of 4 premierships in a row.
Really enjoyed Ivan outlining the themes the team used leading into finals runs (makes me wish he'd write a quick follow up regarding the 2025 finals runs and how losing the penultimate game was integrated, I can't imagine Ivan just giving up on the theme, whatever it was!). Also liked the insight into grounding habits of players to stay present in the game, like stomping feet. Good lesson for us all I think!
I listened to the audiobook (the narrator even sounded like Ivan!) and I'm keen to get my hands on a physical copy from the library to revisit some of the themes and ideas.
November 17, 2024
A great write up of the success of the greatest NRL team of the modern era, plus Ivan's own origins as a player and his transition into coaching.
I love seeing introverts and hard workers succeed: nothing about Ivan and the Panthers' winning comes from luck and that's highlighted here in his breakdown of their process, determination and mindset.
Ivan also takes the opportunity to discuss his personal struggles with depression and mental health, and here's hoping that this act of vulnerability will encourage other men to do the same.
I love seeing introverts and hard workers succeed: nothing about Ivan and the Panthers' winning comes from luck and that's highlighted here in his breakdown of their process, determination and mindset.
Ivan also takes the opportunity to discuss his personal struggles with depression and mental health, and here's hoping that this act of vulnerability will encourage other men to do the same.
March 25, 2025
Amazing. I've been a Tigers supporter since birth, but Penrith are my second team (I live in the area). The one thing that hit home about this book was the building of culture - my kids went to school in Penrith, and the players were often visiting the schools and spending time with the kids. Walk around Penrith on any given day and every second person is wearing merch of some description. The pride that the locals have in their team is enormous - and a huge part of that is due to Ivan and his Penrith team.
April 5, 2025
Great insight into the best coach of the 2020’s so far. I love how Ivan talked about the things he done wrong and learned from coaching through his career and how he approached certain situations. I wish he spoke more about his playing days as he was a good player back in the day but is mostly just known for his coaching now due to his coaching achievements. Would recommend this to anyone wanting to coach or coaching as it can help them going about player selections and other problems coaches may face. Good read
December 13, 2024
Panthers aren’t my team, but I’ve always held a soft spot for them. Ivan’s coaching practices reminded me a lot of Bennett. Was tough reading how they held belief to win the 2023 GF but it showed what my team was missing and is hopefully building now. A brilliant coach who’ll continue to make Penrith a force to be reckoned with.
January 1, 2025
An interesting insight about the man who led the Panthers to 4 NRL titles in a row. He explains the values and culture he has tried to create at the club and also his creative strategies to continue to keep his players hungry and motivated to continue to learn and succeed. This is something for all leaders to learn from not just coaches. Highly recommend.
September 19, 2025
Getting the insight into how Ivan Cleary coaches and creates his club culture is clearly displayed in how successful the Penrith panthers have been, if you are a NRL fan it is a great read, if you are looking for leadership skills Ivan has studied and learnt from successful leaders and passes on great ideas and skills !
October 17, 2024
Intelligent and articulate. From the outside, Cleary comes across as measured, reserved and respected, and this bio shows this to be accurate. He is as he appears, and reading of his development and growth as a coach and leader, it's easy to see why he is successful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews