Ivan Cleary’s Explosive Post-Match Press Conference After Losing to Sydney Roosters: ‘The Game Was Ruined by Bad Calls!’
In a fiery post-match interview following the Penrith Panthers’ unexpected loss to the Sydney Roosters, coach Ivan Cleary didn’t hold back in his criticism of the officials and the crucial decisions that ultimately determined the outcome of the game. With emotions running high, Cleary made it clear that he felt the refereeing was the deciding factor in the defeat, sparking controversy and drawing the ire of fans and analysts alike.
As Cleary entered the press conference room, his face was a mixture of frustration and disbelief. The Panthers had come into the match as the favorites, but after a series of contentious calls from both the on-field referee and the bunker, the Roosters emerged with a hard-fought 18-16 win. The loss marked a massive blow for Penrith’s season, and Cleary was ready to vent his frustrations.
Reporter: “Coach Cleary, a tough result today. Can you walk us through your thoughts on how the game unfolded?”
Ivan Cleary: (visibly frustrated) “It’s a tough one to swallow, to be honest. We played hard, we fought all the way through, but we were up against more than just the Roosters today. The officiating completely ruined the flow of the game. I don’t want to take anything away from the Roosters, they played well, but we were on the receiving end of some absolutely shocking decisions.”
Reporter: “Are you saying the officials directly cost you the game?”
Ivan Cleary: “Look, I’m not one to make excuses, but it’s hard to ignore what happened out there. The forward pass that led to the Roosters’ try, for example – it was clear as day. Everyone in the stadium saw it. But somehow, the bunker cleared it. We were denied a clear try earlier in the game that could’ve changed the momentum. And then there was the penalty at the end, which was incredibly soft. When you’re battling that kind of inconsistency from the officials, it’s hard to keep your focus and momentum.”
Reporter: “Do you think the referees were deliberately biased towards the Roosters, or was it just poor decision-making?”
Ivan Cleary: (sighing deeply) “I’m not going to go as far as to say it was deliberate. But I’ll tell you this — the inconsistencies were blatant. When you see calls like that, it starts to make you question the fairness of the process. I’ve been coaching for a long time, and I’ve never seen such a series of bad calls all in one match. It wasn’t just one or two. It was across the board, and it kept happening over and over again.”
Reporter: “After the game, fans are questioning whether the officials had any agenda against Penrith. Do you feel that the Panthers were unfairly targeted by the referees?”
Ivan Cleary: (with visible anger) “I don’t know if it’s an agenda, but I do know that we were on the wrong side of some of the most questionable decisions I’ve ever seen in this competition. I’m not here to make excuses, but when you’re not getting the calls you deserve, it becomes a real challenge to win the game. I’m not taking away from what the Roosters did; they capitalized on the chances they got. But, when you’re constantly battling the whistle as well as your opponents, it’s frustrating.”
Reporter: “You mentioned earlier the forward pass that wasn’t called. How much do you think that moment affected the team’s morale and the result?”
Ivan Cleary: “It’s a huge moment. That try could’ve completely shifted the game in our favor. Momentum is a powerful thing, especially in tight matches like this one. We were starting to build some pressure, and then to see something so blatant go against us, it’s hard to bounce back from that. It’s not just about the points, it’s about the psychological impact of those kinds of calls. We’ve seen teams lose their heads over decisions like that, but I’m proud of our boys for sticking with it, despite everything.”
Reporter: “With such a controversial result, do you think this will have any lasting impact on your players or the way the team approaches upcoming matches?”
Ivan Cleary: “I don’t think this loss will break us. We have a strong, resilient group. What this game does is show us that we can’t let external factors dictate our destiny. We need to keep our focus and control what we can control. We’ll take the positives from this match — the way we fought, the way we didn’t give up — and we’ll learn from the mistakes, both on and off the field.”
Reporter: “Finally, coach, with the season on the line and the loss to the Roosters today, what’s your message to the fans and the rest of the team?”
Ivan Cleary: “To the fans, we hear you. We know how much this game meant, and we’re just as disappointed as you are with how things went down. To the team, I want them to know that we will not let this defeat define us. We’ll keep fighting, and we’ll make sure that we give everything we’ve got going forward. We’ve still got a long way to go, and this isn’t over. But I do think the NRL needs to take a long, hard look at how they’re handling officiating because this can’t continue.”
Reporter: “Thank you, Coach Cleary.”
Ivan Cleary: “Thanks.”
As Cleary exited the press room, his fiery remarks and scathing criticism of the officiating left a lasting impression. His comments are likely to spark further debate over the state of refereeing in the NRL and whether the Panthers were indeed the victims of poor officiating. For now, Penrith fans will be left to wonder how different the result could have been had the referee and bunker decisions gone in their favor.