In a sensational revelation that has rocked the NRL community, veteran journalist Paul Kent has claimed that Ivan Cleary‘s stunning return to the Penrith Panthers in 2019 was not solely about “unfinished business”—but a calculated act of revenge against the man who previously sacked him, rugby league powerbroker Phil ‘Gus’ Gould.
Speaking on his podcast Kenty, hosted by Fanatics TV, Kent suggested that the four-time premiership-winning coach deliberately returned to Penrith to outshine and ultimately oust Gould, who had controversially dismissed Cleary in 2015, citing that he “looked tired” after four years at the helm.
“Gus got rid of him… said he was tired,” Kent recalled. “Ivan had figured out he didn’t need Gus anymore, and Gus recognised that. Ivan went back, and on the way through he’s gone and necked Gus. That’s your mic drop.”
Cleary’s initial departure from the club had ended in bitterness, with the team languishing at the bottom of the NRL table.
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The coach later took a two-year stint with the Wests Tigers, before making a dramatic comeback to Penrith in 2019—on the condition that Gould would hold no authority over him.
In his 2024 memoir Not Everything Counts But Everything Matters, Cleary acknowledged Gould’s early support, but admitted that their relationship had deeply fractured. “He did so much good for me, but he hurt me too,” Cleary wrote, detailing how the emotional toll of his sacking lingered for years.
Despite initial doubts about his second tenure, Cleary ultimately led the Panthers to a golden era—clinching four premiership titles from 2021 to 2024 and silencing all critics.
Phil Gould, who exited the club in 2019, publicly maintained that there was no bad blood between them, insisting:
“Ivan’s the right coach for the job going forward.”
However, Kent’s explosive claims paint a different picture—one of personal redemption, quiet vengeance, and professional triumph.
Whether Cleary sought revenge or simply redemption, few can argue with the results of his second coming at Penrith: a dynasty built on determination, resilience, and perhaps, a touch of retribution.
