Ivan Cleary, the renowned rugby league coach currently leading the Penrith Panthers, had a distinguished playing career as a versatile utility back and prolific goal-kicker in the NRL.

Playing Career Overview

Cleary played 189 NRL games across four clubs from 1992 to 2002, often battling injuries but shining as a points machine—most notably in 1998 when he set a then-record 284 points for the Sydney Roosters.

Here's a breakdown of the teams he represented:

Club| Years| Key Highlights
---|---|---
Manly Sea Eagles| 1992-1993| Debuted as a junior fullback, deputizing for Matthew Ridge with standout performances. 56
North Sydney Bears| 1994-1995| Played centres amid injuries; helped charge to preliminary final in 1994. 59
Sydney Roosters| 1996-1999| Peak years—top point-scorer in 1998 (284 pts, surpassing Mick Cronin's record at the time); dislocated hip in 1999 pre- season. 36
New Zealand Warriors| 2000-2002| Club-record 242 points in 2002; retired after grand final loss. 15

Transition to Coaching

After hanging up his boots in 2002, Cleary swiftly moved into coaching—starting as an assistant at Roosters, then Warriors (2005-11, reaching 2011 grand final), before stints at Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers. His playing days laid the foundation for a coaching legacy, including multiple premierships with Panthers as of late 2025.

TL;DR : Ivan Cleary played for Manly (92-93), Norths (94-95), Roosters (96-99), and Warriors (00-02)—a goal-kicking legend who became an elite coach.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.