Cleary’s speech, in the bowels of Penrith’s team hotel, features no ranting or raving, no chest-beating, tear-jerking or rugby league epiphanies.

Instead, he speaks of the club’s storied rivalry with Melbourne, forged in a 2020 grand final ambush; his respect for Craig Bellamy and how the Panthers push past them to a fourth straight decider.

“The wheel has turned,” Cleary tells his players. “Are they more dangerous now because they’re the underdog? You’ve still got to find the fire to take these blokes on. Because they will have it. It is so important for us to trust what we do. What’s got us here. How we prepare. How we play.

“The only way we can fail is by not facing your fears and taking them head on. And accelerating in those times when you’re doubting yourself, looking at the scoreboard, worrying about an injury or fatigue or whatever. Face it head on – you can’t fail if you do that.”

James Fisher-Harris, Jarome Luai and Spencer Leniu absorb it all, as though sitting at the feet of Al Pacino’s Tony D’Amato as he holds court in Any Given Sunday.

Loading

Cleary appears as calm and measured as ever. One of his few concessions to rugby league theatre are the game-day superstitions he largely keeps to himself.

The silver mane he sported during that 2020 season was because the coach linked his growing locks to Penrith’s unbeaten run. For the last two months of that season he wore a watch that didn’t work – because the Panthers kept winning while it was on his wrist.

Back on game day, 2023, in the dressing rooms of Accor Stadium, cameras follow Penrith and Cleary once more. The coach’s address is brief and to the point prior to kick-off.

“Last thing, but definitely not least, boys, ‘f---ing have fun boys. F---ing have fun’,” Cleary tells his side. “This is where we want to be. We’ve put in all this work all year, so get out there and have fun.”

Penrith did. Within 30 minutes they had put three tries on the Storm in that preliminary final, going into halftime holding a comfortable 18-4 lead.

“Go and set the scene again,” Cleary says after individual briefs with the likes of captain Isaah Yeo and centre Izack Tago. “Anything else? Go and set the scene.”

Penrith, of course did, thumping Melbourne 38-4 to march into one of the greatest grand finals of all time against Brisbane. Cleary went on to give one of the great post-season speeches at the club’s awards night.

His re-telling of his response to being lured back to coach Penrith – centring on the words, ‘f–- yeah’ – brought the house down, the highlight of a genuinely entertaining 20-minute delivery. Not a bad quote after all.

Episode two of Undisputed is available on 9NOW at noon on Friday.

The World Club Challenge is Live and Free to stream on 9GemHD and 9Now on Sunday 6.30am AEDT.