Wests Tigers skipper Moses Mbye says he's sure Ivan Cleary would handle his exit from the NRL joint venture differently if he had his time over again.

Five months after his ugly departure from Concord to link up with his son Nathan at Penrith, coach Cleary will come up against his former side for the first time when the two teams clash at Panthers Stadium on Friday night.

Moving on: Moses Mbye says the way Ivan Cleary left the Tigers wasn't ideal, but that it's now in the past. Credit:AAP

Cleary's defection still lingers of Concord, an episode which strained friendships between him and officials and players.

For months prior to announcing he had jumped ship on a five-year deal, Cleary publicly maintained that he intended to honour his contract.