“’What on earth do you mean?’: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary reacts sharply to query regarding son Nathan”

Ivan Cleary has refuted claims that Nathan Cleary is finding it difficult to bounce back after being sidelined due to a head knock sustained during the match against the Storm, as the team’s dismal season persists.

The talented halfback was forced off the field just eight minutes into the grand final rematch in round three following a vicious collision with Jahrome Hughes, resulting in a concussion.

He was ruled out for the subsequent match in accordance with NRL concussion protocols before making his return against the Cowboys last weekend.

However, the 27-year-old has not yet delivered the quick turnaround some fans had hoped for, as the Panthers faced their fifth consecutive defeat on Thursday against the Dolphins.

Cleary faced questions during the post-match press briefing when a journalist queried whether the recent concussion might have had an impact.

The coach promptly dismissed such notions.

“What do you mean? I thought he was exceptional last week,” Ivan responded.

“He was our standout player. This week, he might have played even better – but I felt the rest of the squad was trying really hard yet it just wasn’t coming together.

“That’s the reality when you’re in this situation. The momentum is not in our favour at the moment, so we must ensure that when it does shift, we take advantage of it.”

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Penrith committed 11 errors and conceded six penalties during their 30-12 defeat.

To compound the situation, Paul Alamoti may face a suspension after being sin-binned for a high tackle on Tom Gilbert.

Despite the evident challenges and losing streak, Cleary is confident that solutions can be found and that their season is far from over.

“Absolutely, we can turn it around,” he asserted.

“I have trust in the boys, the team, and the club. Obviously, it’s quite challenging at the moment, which is an understatement.

“We simply aren’t performing well enough consistently. These are tough times right now.

“It’s clear that our defence isn’t up to par, and that’s heavily impacting the rest of our game – it certainly did tonight, in my view.

“Going five weeks without a win is simply too long when we fail to defend our line early in games. It gives the opposition confidence while taking ours away a bit.

“I remain hopeful that we can improve, but we need to act at some stage.”

Penrith captain Isaah Yeo acknowledged that the beginning of this season presents one of the toughest challenges he and fellow co-captain Nathan have faced in recent years.

“This is certainly unparalleled since Nathan and I took on the captaincy,” he remarked.

“There’s no point in considering ourselves victims. We need to stand tall and face it head-on. It’s vital to reflect on our own performance honestly.

“I’d prefer us to rectify our mistakes sooner rather than later. However, sometimes those resolutions don’t come easily; they require hard work.”