PENRITH PANTHERS assistant coach Ben Gardiner is being linked with the head coaching role at St Helens after the pressure increases on Paul Wellens.
Saints went down 17-4 to the Leeds Rhinos at Super League’s Magic Weekend – a result which left the Merseyside club sixth with just five wins from ten games.
Ahead of the 2025 Super League season, there was excitement surrounding Saints with the capture of Lee Briers as assistant/attacking coach as well as the signing of Brisbane Broncos livewire Tristan Sailor.
However, things have failed to click so far for Wellens and Saints and rugby league columnist for The Western Weekender newspaper in Penrith, Peter Lang, has claimed that Penrith’s second-in-command to Ivan Cleary is on Saints’ radar.
Lang posted on X: “WHISPERS: Panthers Assistant Coach Ben Gardiner is rumoured to be the number one target to take over as head coach for Super League side St Helens in the UK.
Current Saints coach Paul Wellens is under increased pressure to keep his job after his side lost 17-4 to Leeds Rhinos last start.”
‘I’ve seen that before’: Nathan Cleary evokes grand final memories
Nathan Cleary produced an absolute Magic Round masterclass, complete with a classic try that evoked memories of his 2023 NRL grand final match-winner.
Just before half-time against the Broncos on Sunday, Cleary caught the ball close to the Broncos line, then stepped off his left a couple of times and angled back in-field through a yawning gap.
Several Broncos players, including skipper Adam Reynolds, were unable to stop the game’s best player.
TV commentators, and the fans sitting inside Suncorp Stadium and watching at home, would have felt a sense of déjà vu, given Cleary produced something eerily similar, against the same opposition – and against Reynolds – in the 77th minute of the decider a couple of years ago.
Even Cleary himself started to think about that wonderful night not long after he had scored.
“As I scored, ‘Dyl’ [Dylan Edwards] came up to me and said, ‘I’ve seen that before’,” Cleary said. “It’s different circumstances, but it was nice.”
Coach Ivan Cleary added: “Watching it from the same position, that was a good moment. It was good to see him play well. I feel like he’s been playing well anyway. As a team, we haven’t been clicking together as well as we can.”
Nathan was in a serious mood and sent a message to the rest of the NRL that he and his Panthers are not to be under-estimated.
The Panthers’ premiership hopes were on life support before they arrived in the Queensland capital after registering just two wins from their opening eight games.
But they survived a string of sets midway through the first half against the Broncos, then grew in confidence before Cleary inspired the 32-8 triumph.
Cleary kicked a 40/20 that led to a try for impressive young prop Luron Patea. He put through a lovely chip kick for Izack Tago to score. He even had a hand in Tom Jenkins first try early in the second half.
When Cleary’s face was beamed on the big screen before kick-off, a chorus of boos rung out around the ground.
As long as Cleary stays fit, Penrith can never be written off.
The Broncos blew yet another chance to prove they are the real deal. On paper, they have one of the best teams in the premiership, but you never know what you are going to get. The big talking point at Red Hill this week will be whether to rush Ezra Mam back into the NRL side, or give him some time in reserve grade.
In a minor consolation for Reynolds, he moved to 2420 points, two clear of Canterbury legend Hazem El Masri, to become the second top points-scorer of all time behind Cameron Smith (2786).