Ivan Cleary's deafening silence about his immediate future has prompted proud Tigers to find their own voice and demand the coach come clean on his plans for next year.
Former Wests Tigers chairman Mike Bailey said he wanted the situation resolved "as quickly as possible", while Balmain great Benny Elias was far less subtle, saying: "The silence is killing me. It's wrong."
Tight-lipped: Ivan Cleary has stopped short of guaranteeing he will coach the Tigers next year.
"We've got a coach who says he will see out his two years but the way he said it almost sounded like a jail sentence," Elias told the Herald.
"I want someone who says they will be there the next five years and want to build a dynasty.
"This is the same coach who let three of our best juniors go, and two of them will play for Australia in the Test next weekend.
"When I cut I bleed black and gold. The supporters deserve a lot better. I'm not sure the players know what is happening. It's disgusting."
Elias called for the Tigers to part ways with Cleary amid increasing speculation linking him with a return to Penrith.
"[Panthers general manager] Phil Gould is no fool. Penrith are one of the wealthiest clubs, they have one of the greatest training and medical facilities – they are a super club," Elias said.
"Gus is a clever man. He had a chance to sign a new coach for 2019 and stuck with [Cameron Ciraldo]. I think it's all planned. I think it's done.
"Our committee appoints the coach, now it's time they show some courage and leadership to our people [and cut Cleary loose]."
I'm not sure the players know what is happening. It's disgusting.
Penrith remain confident Cleary will be overseeing day one of pre-season training next month, even though he is signed for another two years at the Tigers.
The Tigers maintain Cleary has a contract and he will honour it.
Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe told the Herald on Wednesday: "Our position hasn't changed and we have a coach who will honour his contract the next two years."
Wayne Bennett and Michael Maguire have been floated as potential replacements but the club – and at least Bennett – have maintained there has been no such talk.
Bennett, however, was prepared to entertain any interested club, including the Tigers, from 2020 once his Brisbane deal expired.
Cleary refused to guarantee he would return next year when he spoke at the club's final press conference after the round-25 loss to South Sydney.
"I have a contract here," Cleary said at the time.
Wayne Bennett has been floated as a possible successor to Cleary at the Tigers.
Since that time Cleary's son Nathan has signed a new deal at Penrith until the end of 2024, and his desire to unite with the 20-year-old is impossible to ignore.
The pair are expected to fly out for a family holiday to Asia next week.
One of the big reasons the Panthers sacked Anthony Griffin so late in the season was because he was seen as a stumbling block in nailing Nathan's signature.
While Cleary snr was criticised by Elias for his retention record at the Tigers, he had limited time in the top job to convince Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco and Aaron Woods to remain at the joint venture and was behind the inspired move to bring back favourite sons Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah to the club.
Cleary could not be reached for comment on Thursday night.
Bailey, who remains chairman of the powerful Wests Ashfield club, said on Thursday: "As a supporter I want to know what is happening. At the moment we don't know and it seems those forces are outside of our hands.
"Naturally as a supporter and someone actively involved in the team through the chairmanship of Wests Ashfield I'd like to see it resolved as quickly as possible so the club, supporters, members and staff and players can move on to whatever we're moving on to."
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