Watch out Laurie: Cleary tipped for NSW Blues job

Ivan Cleary could walk into the NSW Blues coaching role any time he wants, according to Mat Rogers.

In the aftermath of the coaching legend announcing he would step down from his role with Penrith at the end of 2027, speculation has turned to what comes next for the four-time premiership winning coach.

Peter Wallace has already been confirmed as his replacement, so what does the future hold for a man who has coached teams to a total of six Grand Finals over a 20-year career in the NRL?

"Bellamy, Bennett and Ricky; you need personalities. They are hardcore guys," Rogers said on SEN.

"I don’t see Ivan fit into those three. Maybe he doesn’t want to get into that old cranky type.

"It's no brainer to me that in the next four years he's in the Blues coaching job, if he wants it, he gets it or the Australian job.

"He gets that job when he wants it or the Australian job."

Former Raiders captain and Rogers' SEN co-host Jarrod Croker then turned the conversation to Ivan's son and NRL superstar Nathan Cleary.

Off-contract at the same time as his father, it seems there could be something of an exodus from the Panthers in 18 months time with numerous players tipped to play the open market come November 1.

"A few will (start looking) now there’s more clubs and more money out there," Croker said. "But they will also know what Wallace wants as well and what he can do for the club moving forward.

"They would have through this out without thinking about it but there will be player movement there’s no doubt about it."

Asked if he though Cleary could reunite with former teammate Jarome Luai at the PNG Chiefs, Croker added: "Yeah potentially. It’s a valid question. The avenue for Nathan is anything.

"I don’t think his dad will have held him back, but I don’t think his dad will have stood in his way, but out of respect for his father, he wouldn’t have wanted to leave.

"He is freed up after 2027. He can leave knowing he wont go against his dad and he wont have an issue. It opens up so many doors, PNG, Union, England. Could be anything."

WHO ELSE IS ON THE OUT?

Following Ivan Cleary's shock announcement that he would not coach the Panthers beyond 2027, attention has turned towards the futures of Penrith's number of stars available to negotiate with rivals from November 1.

Co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo headline the list of premiership stars, also including Moses Leota, Liam Martin, Brian To'o, and Mitch Kenny, amongst others.

Several of Penrith's stars have already an indicated in an interest in chatting with the PNG Chiefs, largely on the lure of tax-free decisions and playing with former teammate Jarome Luai again, while the Perth Bears also loom.

Cleary's long-term assistant Peter Wallace has been named Cleary's successor, with Panthers CEO Matt Cameron hopeful 'Wal's' strong relationship with the playing group will be a factor in helping Penrith retain their stars.

Speaking at a press conference, Panthers CEO Matt Cameron insisted that it is the primary goal of the club to re-sign every one of their off-contract stars.

"Our goal is to keep every one of those players at this club... that is our priority," Cameron said.

"We realise through either, new clubs coming into the league and advantages that they have over other clubs, we realise that there may be interest out there.

"But the point I want to make is, as I said, we feel this cohort has absolutely earned the right to travel their own path in some ways.

"We're not in a rush; we're going to respect the players and their decisions that they want to make.

"But as I said, our first intent is to get every player that we can get re-signed."

Blaize Talagi, Isaiah Papali'i, and Paul Alamoti are other premiership winners able to negotiate with rivals from November 1.