Penrith coach Ivan Cleary responded empathetically to a rival’s “terrible” sacking, expressing his sympathy and understanding for the situation.

Ivan Cleary expressed sympathy for Jason Demetriou following his sacking by South Sydney, acknowledging the difficult situation Demetriou and his family find themselves in. Cleary, who has experienced being let go by a club before, understands the challenges associated with such public dismissals.

While Cleary empathizes with Demetriou, he emphasized that Penrith’s preparation for their upcoming clash on Thursday night remains unaffected by the situation at South Sydney. Despite the distractions, Cleary recognizes the importance of focusing solely on their own game plan.

Regarding the uncertainty surrounding South Sydney’s coaching situation, with Ben Hornby stepping in as assistant coach for the rest of 2024 and Wayne Bennett possibly taking over next year, Cleary remained focused on the task at hand, expecting a tough challenge from the Rabbitohs regardless of the off-field circumstances.