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Ivan Cleary has been named NRL coach of the year ahead of Penrith's bid for their first premiership since 2003.

One Cleary walked away with an NRL award on Monday night but it wasn't Nathan.

The first virtual Dally M Medal ceremony looked set for a Cleary sweep until Nathan was pipped at the post by Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton for the player-of-the year award.

The Penrith halfback has steered the team to 17 straight NRL wins on the march to Sunday's grand final, but it was the mastermind of those victories who got the credit.

Father Ivan was named coach of the year for the stunning streak that has given the club its first grand final appearance in 17 years.

Ironically, the award has come five years to the day since he was sacked from the club by former boss Phil Gould because he appeared 'tired'.

But heading into Sunday's grand final against Melbourne at ANZ Stadium, the Panthers coach is anything but.

Just last season the Panthers finished 10th and were watching the finals from their couches at home, but in the space of a season have turned the culture around.

A massive improvement of this kind was not expected in 2020, and the attack was questioned with the loss of James Maloney to England.

However, spearheaded by Cleary and his star halfback son, the Panthers are on the verge of an NRL premiership after a record-breaking season.

A win on Sunday will make it 18 straight wins - the most in NRL history.

It's Cleary's second coach of the year award after winning it in 2014, when he led the Panthers to an unlikely preliminary finals finish.

He beat the Storm's Craig Bellamy, Warriors interim coach Todd Payten and Gold Coast's Justin Holbrook for the award.