Ivan Cleary has been announced as Wests Tigers' new coach after signing a three-and-a-half year deal with the NRL club.

Cleary's tenure at the Wests Tigers officially started after the new coach addressed the playing group at the team's recovery session on Monday morning.

In his first task as the coach of the Tigers, Cleary met with the team at Cabarita swimming pool on Monday morning to mark the beginning of a new chapter at the club.

He joins the club after a nightmare month in which Jason Taylor was axed as coach, with the team now floundering on a four-game losing streak.

Cleary couldn't have asked for a tougher baptism of fire, making the road trip to Townsville this weekend for their round six clash against Johnathan Thurston's North Queensland Cowboys.

His appointment follows the sacking of Jason Taylor just three weeks into the new season, the 46-year-old tasked with returning the Tigers to the finals for the first time since 2011.

The former Penrith and Warriors mentor becomes the club's fifth head coach in as many years.

Cleary faces a tough challenge to resuscitate the Tigers, who sit last on the ladder with just one win from five games.

He took the Warriors to the grand final in 2011 and returned the Panthers to the finals for the first time in four years in 2014 before being sacked the following season.

Tigers chairperson Marina Go said the club is excited to have Cleary.

"In appointing Ivan as Head Coach we as a Club have worked through a thorough process and are thrilled to be making this announcement today," she said. "Throughout this process Ivan was incredibly impressive with his vision for this Club and where it can go both on and off the field."

Cleary said he was looking forward to joining Wests Tigers.

"I can't wait to get to work here," he said. "It's no secret that I've missed it [coaching], this is a fresh start for me and I'm committed to seeing this Club reach its potential and to be the success that I know it can be."

with AAP