Penrith’s Ivan Cleary makes sad admission about coaching superstar son, Nathan

Ivan Cleary admits he has struggled to separate his coaching job from his duties as a father when superstar son Nathan has gone down injured during a “disruptive” NRL season for Penrith.

So much so that the famously stoic Panthers boss needed a moment to collect himself after the younger Cleary aggravated a shoulder injury in the loss to Melbourne last Thursday.

Scans have since revealed Nathan Cleary will need until week one of the finals to rest his injury, which had appeared to threaten Penrith’s historic push for a fourth consecutive premiership.

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“He’s obviously disappointed but the scans definitely could have been worse. There’s obviously some hope there,” Ivan Cleary said.

When pressed on Tuesday, the coach would not reveal whether Jack Cole or Brad Schnedier would partner Jarome Luai in the halves for the three weeks until his son returns.

Both Cole and Schneider are likely to be named in the squad to play Canberra and both have experience starting in the halves this season amid Cleary’s hamstring struggles.

Coach Cleary indicated he may wait until the 11th hour to finalise which of the pair comes into the starting side, with both also capable of playing from the bench as a utility.

“We’re playing Saturday. We’ve got a bit to go yet,” he said.

Cleary is content to take an adaptable approach, given the Panthers have become used to rolling with the punches during a season when only one man – Lindsay Smith – has played every game.