Multiple outlets note that Ivan Cleary is widely regarded as belonging alongside rugby league coaching figures such as Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy. The articles frame Cleary’s standing as part of a broader discussion about coaching legacies and what distinguishes different figures in the sport. While the sources agree on the comparison, they also emphasize a key difference: Cleary is not portrayed as a lifelong rugby league figure in the same way as Bennett and Bellamy. In other words, the common thread is that Cleary’s achievements and reputation have placed him in the same conversation as those veteran coaches, but his background and relationship to the sport’s culture are described as different. The coverage suggests that, regardless of how Cleary’s career develops from here, he will be remembered for his impact and for how his coaching profile fits within the wider history of elite NRL management. The articles do not rely on specific game results or dates in the provided excerpts, focusing instead on legacy and context.