League: Cleary linked to Kangaroos job

Ivan Cleary. Photo / Getty Images

Former Penrith and Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has been linked to the vacant Kangaroos coaching job.

Weekend media reports across the Tasman claim the Australian Rugby League Commission is lining up Cleary to replace Tim Sheens who stepped down after six years in the job after the Kiwis recently won the Four Nations trophy.

Cleary was sacked by the Panthers last week and has been linked to a return to the Warriors where he was a successful player and coach.

An appointment as head Australian coach would pit him against Steve Kearney which is ironic given he has acted as an assistant to Kearney with the Kiwis previously.

Newspapers in Australia claim Cleary has impressed with his efforts with a Prime Minister's XIII victory over Papua New Guinea last month.

Rival State of Origin coaches Laurie Daley and Mal Meninga and Brisbane Broncos boss Wayne Bennett have also been listed as possibilities for the job. Meninga has actively campaigned for the role of which the key challenge is beating Kearney's Kiwis after they supplanted the Kangaroos as the best international test team in the code.

"Everyone likes to further their credentials," Cleary told The Australian newspaper of his PNG sojourn. "This is different to what you do every day as a club coach. I get to meet new players and get to know them. Then there's the challenge of pulling a side together with not very much time."

Asked about representative coaching ambitions, he said: "I'm not reading too much into it. But I'm just taking the opportunity."

Sacked former Manly coach Geoff Toovey is another contender but there is no rush to make an appointment given Australia doesn't play again until next year's Anzac Test.

Meanwhile, Cleary's son, outstanding halfback Nathan, is set to also leave Penrith. The star of two recent Australian Schoolboys victories over New Zealand, Clearly junior has a get-out clause in his contract if his father was to be released by the Panthers.

Penrith club supremo Phil Gould acknowledged rival clubs are watching the situation with interest. "Just signed a new contract .. He does have a clause saying he can leave to play with his father's new club," Gould posted in a tweet.

- nzherald.co.nz