"Mind blowing": Was Cleary snubbed for Coach of the Year?

Wednesday’s Dally M Awards night saw Warriors coach Andrew Webster claim his second Dally M Coach of the Year.

But Adam Peacock believes this year’s award should have gone to a different coach.

Following the home and away season, three coaches in the Dolphins’ Kristian Woolf, Newcastle’s Justin Holbrook and Webster were shortlisted for the award, with each coach having compelling reasons for their case.

Only in their fourth year in the NRL, Woolf helped take the Dolphins into a top four finish and maiden finals berth, seeing their season end in the preliminary finals while Holbrook took the Knights from wooden spooners to the finals.

However, Webster received the award having helped coach the Warriors to their highest finish since 2002 despite dealing with several injuries to key players.

The award only considered each coach’s performance during the home and away season. Despite that, there have been calls that Holbrook deserved the award following their finals run.

However, Peacock believes the award should have gone to someone besides the nominated three.

Having claimed his fourth minor premiership with the Panthers this year, the SEN 1170 and SENQ’s Arvos host thinks Ivan Cleary has been overlooked yet again.

“In the last 10 years, only two coaches have not won Coach of the Year after their team won (the) minor premiership,” Peacock explained.

“In 2018, Trent Robinson didn't win it when the Roosters finished first past the post; Anthony Seibold won it.

“It's now happened to Ivan Cleary three times.

“Ivan Cleary has had to rebuild a roster, yes, with the greatest production line that probably rugby league's ever seen.

“But still win another minor premiership, another J.J. Giltinan Shield and doesn't get Coach of the Year.

“Like it keeps on happening; it's happened for the third time it's happened to Ivan. It's mind-blowing.”

SEN League is your home for the NRLW and NRL Grand Final on Sunday, with our coverage across our radio network and on the SEN app beginning from 12pm AEDT.

Kick-off takes place at 4pm and 7:30pm.