News Ivan will win best coach tonight – but Barrett deserves the medal

[Spoonman84]

Ivan Cleary will win the Dally M coach of the year award Monday night but there should really be two gongs – one for the Panthers head coach and one for assistant coach Trent Barrett.

Barrett must be the first bloke Cleary shouts a round of drinks after the champion NSW and Australian five-eighth helped completely overhaul Penrith’s pedestrian attack from last year.

The Panthers have gone from predictable block plays with a kick on the end to the NRL’s most entertaining side.

In fairness, they’ve had the key position changes of Api Korisau and Jarome Luai play an instrumental role.

And they haven’t had to deal with the off-field sex videos of the beginning of last year when they lost eight of the opening 10 games.

Irrespective, it’s clear Barrett’s finger prints are all over the way this team is attacking.

You’ve only got to listen to any of the Panthers playing group when interviewed to hear the influence of Barrett at the foot of the mountains.

The soon-to-be Canterbury-Bankstown coach also played a key role in bringing buy of the year Korisau to Penrith – another key piece of the Panthers powering all the way into the NRL grand final.

Fox Sports Lab statistics from last year show the Panthers were ranked thirteenth in terms of points scored, tries, run metres and tackle busts and twelfth in terms of line breaks.

With Barrett on board, those rankings have transformed into fourth in terms of points scored, third for tries, first for run metres, fourth for line breaks and second for tackle busts.

The one common denominator has been the Panthers ranking first in terms of tackles in the opposition 20m zone.

But the difference this season has been their ability to convert field position into points – with the Panthers averaging 9.2 more points this year.

2020

STATS RANK

POINTS 26.6 4th

TRIES 4.5 3rd

RUN METRES 1642 1st

LINEBREAKS 5.7 4th

TACKLE BUSTS 29.7 2nd

TACKLED IN OPP 20 36.8 1st

2019

STATS RANK

POINTS 17.2 13th

TRIES 2.8 13th

RUN METRES 1375 13th

LINEBREAKS 4.1 12th

TACKLE BUSTS 23.5 13th

TACKLED IN OPP 20 35.9 1st


Panthers head coach Cleary sits 13th on the list of most games coached in the NRL having been at the helm for 341 matches with a win ratio of 49.9 per cent.

Cleary has had stints at the New Zealand Warriors, Penrith, Wests Tigers and his second-coming at the Panthers.

Brian Smith is the only coach who has coached more games than Cleary and not won a premiership with the Panthers coach finals record reading seven wins and seven losses for a 50 per cent win ratio.

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Compare this with Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy who has a finals strike rate of 28 wins and 15 losses at a win ratio of 65.1 per cent.

It all sets up for an epic grand final on Sunday night.

If Cleary breaks his duck and wins his first premiership it will be well deserved.

The way he left Wests Tigers will never sit well with a lot of people but he deserves to celebrate making his second grand final as a head coach.

There are some eerie similarities between this Penrith side and the Panthers class of 2003 – complete with a father and son coaching combination.

Back then it was John Lang and Martin Lang. Will it be the Clearys’ turn to loft the Provan Summons trophy this year?

Blog with Hoops: Ivan will win best coach tonight – but Barrett deserves the medal

Blog with Hoops: Ivan will win best coach tonight – but Barrett deserves the medal

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[bradyk]

They've gone from not having a hooker to having one of the best in the league.

 

[Malla]

Api has been so important for them as well as Luai. Their forward back has gone another level too with Fisher-Harris, Yeo and Martin.

Yes Baz is probably important to them, but they need to pump the breaks on him a bit lol.

 

[Snake]

I am sure Barrett has done a good job this season but Ivan Cleary is the man. He is the one pulling all the strings and making the calls. Cleary has the vision and has put together a strong team and staff

 

[albatross]

Barrett's impact on Penrith is more good evidence that he could improve players and be a successful coach, but the existing quality at Penrith gave him a big head start this year. I wouldn't take anything away from Ivan Cleary either. He'd be the one sacked if they weren't winning, and deserves most of the credit when they are. Signs are good for Barrett but lets see what happens when he gets here.

 

[KambahOne]

I am sure Barrett has done a good job this season but Ivan Cleary is the man. He is the one pulling all the strings and making the calls. Cleary has the vision and has put together a strong team and staff

I tend to agree with this for the simple reason Barrett is a very good attacking coach, but that is only half the game. If Ivan is coaching the defence, than together they make a good coaching team. And defence will be something Barrett has to learn AND instil in your guys.

 

[NPC83]

Barrett to fix our attack and help us recruit players and Furner to stiffen up the defence & mental toughness. I think we are tracking along nicely.

 

[c-b-b]

He's being talked up a fair bit. He'll be under pressure to make an instant impact, alot will hinge on who else we sign in the coming weeks.

 

[MitchNewton]

Hooper is a bitter Tigers supporter

 

[MitchNewton]

I tend to agree with this for the simple reason Barrett is a very good attacking coach, but that is only half the game. If Ivan is coaching the defence, than together they make a good coaching team. And defence will be something Barrett has to learn AND instil in your guys.

Ciraldo is defence coach

 

[James zac]

I think dawn of a new era for us I'm extremely happy with the Barret signing

 

[bulldogsmyte]

They've gone from not having a hooker to having one of the best in the league.

I remember that after Api was reported to come over here people on the kennel were bagging him saying he was a dud signing and a crap hooker at Manly.

 

[bradyk]

I remember that after Api was reported to come over here people on the kennel were bagging him saying he was a dud signing and a crap hooker at Manly.

100%. Fans were saying we shouldn't offer him over 400k because he's injury prone and on the decline. Last year Faniu was better than Koroisau tho. That's a big reason why Manly missed the eight this year.

 

[Novdoggie]

I think the main reason Panthers have done so well is because Gould is not hanging around the team causing anxiety with players looking for him over their shoulders. The shackles have been off this year and yes, with the influence of Barrett's attacking knowledge has seen them get to where they are today.

 

[bulldogsmyte]

100%. Fans were saying we shouldn't offer him over 400k because he's injury prone and on the decline. Last year Faniu was better than Koroisau tho. That's a big reason why Manly missed the eight this year.

So someone has transformed the dud hooker into one of the best in the comp. I sure hope its the same person who transformed a bog average half in Cleary into one of the better halves this year.

 

[Novdoggie]

Ciraldo is defence coach

It use to be said defence wins matches but with the way the game has changed with repeat sets and more ball in play, it's attack that now wins matches. Winning teams are still conceding 20+ points a game but can score 30 or 40 very easily.

Weigh up both Ciraldo and Barrett's input, I'd say Barrett has been more of an influence in winning matches

 

[KambahOne]

Ciraldo is defence coach

You're right he is and having a specialist defence coach is not new. And that reinforces my point that you'll need a specific defence orientated coach with Barrett doing all the attack.

 

[KambahOne]

It use to be said defence wins matches but with the way the game has changed with repeat sets and more ball in play, it's attack that now wins matches. Winning teams are still conceding 20+ points a game but can score 30 or 40 very easily.

Weigh up both Ciraldo and Barrett's input, I'd say Barrett has been more of an influence in winning matches

It has this season for sure, but give the good defensive coaches an off season with the new rules and I think you'll see defence gaining back the ground lost to attack this year in 2021. At least I hope so, I don't want league turning into touch.

 

[Bulldogsteve]

my only concern next year is whether Barrett takes a step back and lets the attacking coach take over. Unlike now where he is in charge of all attack and not having to deal with the day to day running of the team.

 

[Scoooby]

Barrett to fix our attack and help us recruit players and Furner to stiffen up the defence & mental toughness. I think we are tracking along nicely.

And it’s all sounding like TBAZ will do just that, targeting players, all the positive articles etc.. I think 2021 will be a massive improvement. And it will show the direction we will be heading.. and it will be fucking exciting times ahead as doggie supporters.!!! Trent barrett has this .