Former NZ Warriors coach Ivan Cleary believes Phil Gould is the perfect man to guide the club in a new direction, as they look to develop from within to become a force in the NRL.
Last week, the Warriors confirmed Gould had signed on as a consultant with the Auckland-based NRL side from next season, working alongside new coach Nathan Brown.
Gould said that "virtually every waking hour from now will be dedicated towards the Warriors", and his plan was to help the lone NZ franchise keep and develop its young talent.
The 62-year-old employed a similar method when he joined the Panthers in 2012 and the team is now reaping the rewards, as they sit atop the NRL standings and chase a franchise-record ninth consecutive win against the Warriors on Friday.
After leaving the Warriors, Cleary worked with Gould at the Panthers from 2012-14 and again in 2019, before the latter stood down from his role.
Gould sacked Cleary from his first stint for looking "tired" and "burnt out". Last year, Gould reportedly had a handshake deal for Wayne Bennett to coach the Panthers, but the Penrith board overruled him and re-signed Cleary.
Both deny any lingering ill will towards each other.
Having seen what the NRL icon has done first hand, Cleary hopes he can do the same to the Warriors and steer the club in a brighter direction, similar to when he was at the helm between 2006-11.
Cleary guided the Warriors through their golden period, making the playoffs four times, including the 2011 Grand Final.
They missed out on the post-season in 2006, when they started the year with -4 competition points, and dealt with the 2009 death of Sonny Fai, along with a mass player exodus.
"When I was at the Warriors, there was a clear mandate that we decided we'd be a development club and it's the same here at the Panthers," says Cleary. "If that's the track the Warriors want to stay on, then it seems like a good idea.
"I certainly felt that we made some good progress from 2006-2011, there were a lot of good players and the 20s competition coming in 2008 helped us.
"There are certainly a lot of good players there [in New Zealand], but there are a lot of teams sniffing around over there too, so it's a challenge."
Of the 2011 Grand Final line-up, Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Lance Hohaia, Elijah Taylor, Simon Mannering, Sam Rapira and Ben Matulino all came through the Warriors system.
By comparison, the Warriors side to face the Panthers features only Chanel Harris-Tavita, Eliesa Katoa, Jazz Tevaga, and Isaiah Papali'i as homegrown players. Peta Hiku started in the Warriors system, but made his NRL debut for Manly Sea Eagles.
If the Warriors were at full strength, David Fusitu'a, Ken Maumalo and Bunty Afoa could be added to the list, but they are back in New Zealand for various reasons.
The Panthers have plenty of homegrown stars who can't even make their match-day 17, including Billy Burns, Mitch Kenny and Matt Burton, who scored two tries in a 26-0 drubbing of the Warriors earlier this season.
"It's a bit like here, we're trying to develop our best players and keep them, but it's not easy," says Cleary.
"I'm not really across what his actual role is, but from the coverage, it seems like it's around the pathways and development... not just the Warriors, but Pacific Nations and New Zealand as a whole.
"His resume is unrivalled in terms of what he's contributed to the game on all levels - player, coach and the work he's done out here [at the Panthers].
"He knows more than most. I think it would be a challenge though, him not actually living in the country - that's maybe what I see.
"But I'm sure he'll do a great job and it looks like they're probably on the right track."
Another player who couldn't make the Panthers starting side and was subsequently loaned to the Warriors was prop Jack Hetherington.
Hetherington wasn't allowed to face his parent club, but has been suspended for four weeks anyway, after his high tackle on Manly prop Marty Taupau last week.
He has likely played his last game for the Warriors this season, but Cleary admitted Hetherington, who is off-contract at the end of next season, could be released to help retain their young talented juniors.
"Jack is part of our squad, he's on contract next year," says Cleary. "Obviously, we loaned him out because he wasn't getting a lot of football.
"Ironically, he alo lost his spot in our team through suspension earlier in the year for a similar incident. He didn't hurt anyone - it was just a bit of a technique thing - but because he's so aggressive, it probably looks worse.
"We'll see what happens. Our squad is getting harder and harder to manage, in terms of a lot of young players producing good performances.
"What happens with that is that your cap comes under all sorts of pressure, but we're happy with Jack here and we're looking forward to getting him back at the end of next week."
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