Ivan Cleary snubbed again at Dally M awards

He has presided over a record-breaking side that’s just 80 minutes away from a sixth consecutive grand final, but Ivan Cleary has again been snubbed at the Dally M awards.

Canberra’s Ricky Stuart, Canterbury’s Cameron Ciraldo and Brisbane’s Michael Maguire have been shortlisted for the coach of the year award at Wednesday’s awards ceremony at Randwick Racecourse.

Despite taking four-time premiers Penrith from last on the NRL ladder after round 12 to yet another preliminary final, Cleary has failed to make the cut.

Cleary has won the Dally M coach of the year award just once, in 2020, during the Panthers’ streak of five consecutive grand finals.

They went down to the Storm that year, and Cleary hasn’t taken the award home once during their unprecedented streak of four grand final wins.

The former fullback has won the award on one other occasion, while in charge of the Panthers in 2014. Craig Bellamy, who guided Melbourne to an 11th grand final after his side beat the Sharks on Friday night, was another controversial omission. However, Bellamy has won the gong on seven previous occasions.

Panthers back-rower Luke Garner was surprised Cleary hadn’t been recognised during the club’s premiership run.

“It’s baffling. I don’t quite understand it,” Garner told AAP ahead of Sunday’s preliminary final against Brisbane.

“I don’t know who votes and what it’s based on. I don’t know how he has not won it the past four years in a row. Whenever you win the grand final and the coach doesn’t win it, it doesn’t make sense to me.”

Voting for the coach of the year takes place at the end of the regular season, with finals results having no bearing on the result. The Raiders and Bulldogs went out in straight sets in the play-offs, despite both teams finishing within the top four. The Panthers are attempting to become the first team in the NRL era to win the grand final from outside the top four.

It may not be a complete bust for the Cleary family. Nathan Cleary has been shortlisted for both halfback and captain of the year. Teammates Casey McLean (centre), Liam Martin (back-row) and Isaah Yeo (lock) have been nominated for positional awards.

It could be a big night for James Tedesco. A hot favourite for the main player-of-the-year award, the Roosters skipper has also been nominated for fullback and captain of the year.

Another talking point will be the winner of the Provan Summons Medal. The award is handed to the player deemed to have displayed “the true spirit of the game” through their actions and conduct.

Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai have been nominated, despite the pair seemingly falling out over Galvin’s decision to leave Wests Tigers for Canterbury. Parramatta’s Zac Lomax and Canberra’s Jamal Fogarty are the other contenders in the category.

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