 The Grand Final was Ivan Cleary's last match as coach of the club, having signed to take over the Penrith Panthers the following season.Coincidentally, his last match as a player was when he was the fullback in the Warriors side that lost the 2002 Grand Final to the Sydney Roosters, another club Cleary played for in the NRL.Cleary grew up on Sydney's northern beaches, and started his professional career with Manly playing alongside Des Hasler, now his opposing coach.