Post to Wire: Coaching Appointments (NRL)
Nick Tedeschi
Well, Cliffo, it is howling like a gale outside and as wet as sin and all anyone is talking about is coaching. Wayne Bennett and Mick Malthouse, giants of their respective codes and reigning premiership coaches, are departing their respective clubs at the end of 2011. Bennett is leaving the Dragons and will be coaching Newcastle in 2012. Malthouse is part of some obscene Collingwood power handover deal with Nathan Buckley that may not be so smooth if the Pies go on to win another title.
So let's go through each club, Ringer McSting, and see who will be coaching there in 2012, starting with the NRL.
Brisbane and Canberra seem to be sorted. Anthony Griffin just signed on for two more years and has the Broncos flying while David Furner is helped greatly by the fact his brother is the CEO at Canberra. Do you think Furner should be in charge of the Raiders next season? How long does he get? Will there be a situation in the near future where the Canberra board are going to have to axe both because it seems like it is getting to that stage?
Cliff Bingham
Griffincertainly does have the Broncos firing and importantly, he has started with the Bennett-like mantra of working on the defensive efforts and attitude first. Conceding only 44 points in their first five outings is a terrific return and has eased much of the pressure on Lockyer, Wallace and the relatively inexperienced outside backs (Justin Hodges being the notable exception). An extension already appears well deserved. The Furner brothers do appear joined at the hip in Canberra, a situation that can only limit the ceiling of the Green Machine in the foreseeable future. I agree that both may need to feel the axe before the Raiders can flourish.
Kelvin Moore at Canterbury and in particular Shane Flanagan at Cronulla both started 2011 a little better than pre-season expectations would have you believe. How does this impact upon their job security?
Nick Tedeschi
This is a crunch year for Kevin Moore. Both Chris Anderson and Steve Folkes were long-term options at Canterbury and Moore is hoping for the same length of time but he won't get it if the Bulldogs fail to fire. He has overseen almost the complete turnover of the roster in two big off-season spending sprees so he has no excuses. I think the Dogs will do enough for him this year but if they don't, the likes of Mick Potter, Mick Maguire and even Andy Patmore will come into contention for the top job.
In regards Flanagan, he has already been given an extension and considering the Sharks are paying somewhere around four coaches who they fired still and they can't afford a CEO or someone to run an extra hot dog stand, I think Flanagan remains even if Cronulla lose every game from here on out. In fairness though, the Sharks are playing with more width and enterprise and are showing a lot more they did under the Stuart years with far less talent.
Johnny Cartwright is safe at the Titans with Chairman Paul Broughton saying he viewed Cartwright as a Wayne Bennett like figure.
What about Des Hasler at Manly? There have been rumours linking him to the Penrith job. Does he stay on the Northern Beaches? He seems pretty popular there and he did bring them a title.
Cliff Bingham
I would find it difficult to see Hasler coaching anyone but the Sea Eagles. Their playing stocks are going through a regeneration process after a premiership and grand final loss, and therefore some latitude should be coming his way. To see him at Penrith would be surprising.
Craig Bellamy is safe down in Melbourne for as long as he sees fit and rightfully so – the Storm keep winning despite their prop rotation including Troy Thompson, Bryan Norrie and Adam Woolnough, all of whom were shunned by lesser teams.
As you noted at the start, Bennett will be at Newcastle in 2011. How do you feel about the prospects of the Warriors and Cowboys?
Nick Tedeschi
I have really come around to Ivan Cleary in recent years. He has done a great job at the Warriors. The only season the Warriors did not win at least 50 per cent of their games was the year after Sonny Fai died, a blow we all underestimated. He is the right man for the Warriors. A respected man and unafraid of making the big calls, as he did a few weeks back. The Warriors would do well to hold onto him.
You are the Cowboys man Sting and thus best placed to comment though personally, I think he has done an abhorrent job and remains only because of his long deal the Cowboys cannot afford to pay out. His feud with Thurston is silly and he is a micro-manager that rarely has the support of senior players.
While you are at it, do you have any thoughts on how Stephen Kearney is going early days at Parramatta? Are there any signs of improvement there? Is he a long-term solution?
Cliff Bingham
My thoughts on Neil Henry in haiku form:
Betrayed the Raiders
Signed troublemakers and frauds
The axe is coming.
The Eels defence has leaked an average of almost 26 points per game this season and thus the verdict on Kearney to date cannot be glowing. There were also some very questionable off-season signings, though the attribution of decision making between Kearney and Paul Osborne is a matter of debate. I cannot imagine a noted hard worker like Kearney being enticed into signing a Carl Webb, Reni Maitua or Chris Walker – especially after his tenure as Craig Bellamy’s assistant. If Kearney did have a hand in these signings, Parramatta fans should be worried about the future.
Penrith are an interesting proposition. The bell surely tolls for Matt Elliott, but does he see out the 2011 season, and who takes his place in 2012? I have become a bit of a Rick Stone fan of late, and would be happy to see him staking a claim at the foot of the mountain.
St George locked in the services of one Steve Price (who is neither the recently retired prop nor the Sydney radio shock jock) earlier in the year. What is his background?
Nick Tedeschi
Rugby League and haiku: always a match made in heaven.
There is no doubt Matt Elliott is gone. The Panthers don’t have the talent to make any kind of run this year and with an 0-8 all-time finals record, it is hard to make any case for him staying on.
I would love to see Rick Stone get the gig. He has done an outstanding job with limited talent and resources at the Knights and deserves a long-term gig somewhere. Mal Meninga, Nathan Brown and Mick Maguire have also been mentioned in dispatches with Mal reportedly favourite. That sums up Penrith. Go with the flash when they should look for the substance.
Steve Price is an interesting character and I reckon he might be a coach in the Bellamy mould. He played a handful of games for the Dragons and Balmain in the late nineties, a sharp-minded but body-handicapped player who worked hard. He has been at the Dragons since 2002 and coached their Toyota Cup teams in 2008 and 2009. He was also, tellingly, the only Dragons assistant Wayne Bennett kept on when he joined the club and was reportedly given a glowing endorsement by the super coach. He will get the job done I reckon.
The big question on everyone’s lips now Wayne Bennett has signed to the Knights is who will coach South Sydney. John Lang has no intention of going on beyond 2011 and there are already calls for his head from restless Bunnies. Who gets the gig? I have always been a massive fan of Mick Maguire and I hear a deal is done there. Anyone else in the mix? Mick Potter? Nathan Brown? Rick Stone? Brian Noble?
Cliff Bingham
I am fairly unfamiliar with the work of Brian Noble and far too familiar with the work of Nathan Brown from his days at St George-Illawarra, but Rabbitohs fans would see their club in good stead with of any of the other three names you’ve mentioned. For the sake of ending speculation at a club whose concentration lapses at the drop of a hat, I hope an appointment occurs sooner rather than later, whomever they may sign.
After taking the 2009 wooden spoon winner to the 2010 Grand Final, it would seem reasonable to assume that Brain Smith is safe at the Roosters for at least the short term.
In the last week there have been numerous reports that Tim Sheens is on the cusp of signing for a further two years at the Wests Tigers – do you know if pen has officially been put to paper?
Nick Tedeschi
Not sure if pen has been put to paper there but the deal is done and Tim Sheens will coach the Tigers until the end of 2013, scuttling the plans of Steve Folkes, who is no doubt hoping to step into the role.
Brian Smith seems safe though it should be noted, no coach is ever safe at the Roosters. They have been through five coaches in the last 12 years and Grand Final appearances rarely ensure long tenure. See Graham Murray. See Brad Fittler. See Ricky Stuart.
On Ricky Stuart, do you think he will get a first grade gig again? Surely not, but he continually rates a mention even though he is, perhaps, the worst coach of the last decade, Ivan Henjak included.
Cliff Bingham
The improvement shown by Cronulla post-Stuart surely does his prospects no good – ditto for the Broncos post-Henjak. On a personal note, as a diehard Queensland fan I am delighted to see Stuart in charge of the Blues for the 2011 instalment of State of Origin and already publically talking about hoping to win one of the three matches. Just when you think New South Wales are working out their strategy, they let off another hand grenade in their own trench. Should I wait until they name the Origin I side before sending Bob McCarthy another fruit basket, or send one now to beat the rush?
Nick Tedeschi
Bob McCarthy, Bob Fulton and Laurie Daley are the three biggest criminals in Australian sport, robbing New South Wales of victory for so long. Ah, you have me angry now Sting.
Anyway, that better do us for this week. Next week, we go post to wire on the AFL coaching fraternity…until then…over an out.
