From The Couch: Round 14

Terrific Tuesday: Two coach sackings in a single day makes for truly a special day and seeing two clubs try to smother it under the shadow of Origin is truly special. The inevitable finally came last Tuesday with the Warriors sacking Nathan Brown and the Tigers finally pulling the pin on Michael Maguire’s extended life support.

Let’s start with Brown. He was, at the time, one of the worst hirings of the NRL Era. Just 18 months Brown was sent packing in what has been hysterically spun as a “resignation” because, even more amusing to anyone who has actually shifted from Australia to New Zealand, that the coach of the team would not actually move there. So convincing was the story that intrepid Daily Telegraph genius David Riccio even pushed him for the Tigers job before being told by Brown that he was retiring as a head coach, less his 36 wins from 131 games since returning to the NRL in 2016 was not confirmation of same. Brown was hired because he had good chat so owner Mark Robinson deserves much of the blame for the devastatingly parlous state the club is in now. 

The search moves on to who next. It is an important hire but one that will not attract high quality candidates. Robinson should leave it to people in the know but has already stated that Michael Maguire is not on the radar despite him being a semi-acceptable fit. There looks little doubt that the Warriors will go hard at Kristian Woolf though Maguire is favourite for the job. Others who will be in the mix will be Paul Green, Shane Flanagan and Geoff Toovey. Green would be the top play. 

The Tigers decision has taken an interminably long time and it is pleasing to see that after 12 months of trying they finally managed to pull the plug. Tim Sheens finally had enough. It was hard to make a case for Magiure in the end even though the players, for the most part, had been trying. The road had run out and there was not much left to say other than another disappointing chapter at the Tigers had closed.

The club has made no secret that they want Cameron Ciraldo. A development coach would be the right fit with Tim Sheens running football. Ciraldo is the hot assistant. It would make sense. It probably makes sense for Ciraldo too, who gets an experienced coach to assist him, a long-term contract and plenty of time to bring through talented kids. If he does not take this he may end up the next David Fairleigh or Jim Dymock. The concern for the Tigers is they have no Plan B. John Morris was stiffed at the Sharks but the fact remains he could not attract big names and that is a terrible fit for a club who cannot attract big names. Woolf has to be the one the Tigers chase if they miss Ciraldo.  

Arrogant Blues Pay Price: The line between confidence and arrogance is a fine line. It was clear well before last Wednesday that the Blues had jumped over it. The team selections were curious and when the energy came from a young and keen Queensland team the Blues just could not match it. It was a truly remarkable debut game for Billy Slater. He unearthed three Queeslanders who could not have been more quintessentially Queensland. Cotter and Carrigan were fearless bulls. Cobbo was just such a beauty to watch. It is arguable that none of the three would have gotten a look in for NSW, just as Alan Tongue never did and plenty before him. Instead someone with a certain body type or blessed to be from a certain club would have got the inside run. 

It is fairly clear that NSW need to make changes. Greg Alexander suggests they won’t be wholesale. He should reconsider that position. Daniel Tupou needs to go. He was not hopeless but he does not offer what Josh Addo-Carr does. Latrell Mitchell should be recalled even without a club game. Jack Wighton was the Blues’ best and cannot be dropped but Jarome Luai should hardly have a mortgage on the No.6 jumper. Tariq Sims of course has to go and so does Ryan Matterson and Haumole Olakauatu or Angus Crichton or both should be in for them. Luke Garner should also come under consideration. Recalling Jake Trbojevic would not be the worst idea to add some much-needed gumption given the lack of props available. 

Brad Fittler found success because he had a major talent edge and because he did things differently. This series he has just reverted to the old Blues way. And if he doesn’t change soon he will get the same old Blues results. 

Oh Never Question the Sanctity of the Doctor: Let’s be extremely clear from the get go: I am not a doctor. Much like Braith Anasta, I lack medical qualifications. What I do, however, have is a set of eyes and the very basic ability to tell when someone has had a head knock that requires looking at. Isaah Yeo was clearly knocked out and the fact he was allowed to play on was not only a disgrace but impunes the NRL, The Bunker and the doctors involved. To suggest players earlier in the season were taken off for far less would be massively underselling it. Yeo was allowed to play on because it was Origin. If that was because the doctor was not given the correct angles or because there was an edict to give more leniency, it is an abject disgrace that should see many, many, many people sacked. It not only put a player in danger but undermines any stance on head knocks the NRL has. It is simply being given token acknowledgment for expediency sake. The NRL does not give a damn about player safety and until there is an investigation into this and significant ramifications, that is the only position one can take. 

Carelessness Kills: Brent Naden is about as careless a footballer as there is. He has plenty of physical tools but his refusal to give the game the proper respect the game deserves cost him a Grand Final spot, cost him a run with the high-flying Panthers, saw him out the door at the Bulldogs after less than half a season and saw his Tigers career start with an unforced knock on over the line, two missed tackles that led to tries and a send off that could have been disastrous for Jake Trbojevic. Naden is a lost cause and the Tigers are now on the hook for him. 

2022 Field Goal Update – 19: Chad Townsend kicked a late field goal that delighted early minus punters and 13-plus backers across the globe. 

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Fun Fact #1: Brett Kimmorley has coached one NRL game and has had one player sent off. 

Fun Fact #2: Just two of the last 11 interim coaches have won their first game in charge – Dean Young and Krisitan Woolf. 

Fun Fact #3: The last interim coaches to win a head coaching job were Andrew McFadden and Paul McGregor in 2014. 

Betting Market of the Week: The best commentary to watch is:

$1001: Channel Nine
$501: Fox Sports with Brenton Speed and Steve Roach
$1.01: Fox Sports without Brenton Speed and Steve Roach

Rumour Mill: One wild rumour doing the rounds is that the Tigers will try to poach Todd Payren. There is absolutely zero chance Payten would leave a good situation that he has put together in Townsville. Luciano Leilua is expected to join the Cowboys this week. Injured Hull FC star Jake Connor is a very good chance of shifting to the NRL next season with Canberra his most likely landing spot if he does try to test himself at NRL level.

Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week: There were plenty of signs heading into Origin I that Brad Fittler had lost the plot. That was confirmed an hour before kickoff when he astonishingly benched Cameron Murray in order to start Liam Martin while Tariq Sims remained on the field. Freddy’s obsession with Penrith players and his underestimation of Cameron Murray are truly moronic. 

The Coaching Crosshairs: Following the sacking of Michael Maguire and Nathan Brown, it would seem unlikely we will see any more sackings this season with Adam O’Brien and Justin Holbrook the only candidates to go. O’Brien is not huge odds. The Knights are going awful but he seems beloved in the Hunter. Holbrook is widely regarded as an astute coach but this Titans thing is not working out. The continual floggings the Knights are copping though will surely have the drums banging there. 

Watch It: Some 40 years ago this was the campaign the NSWRL rolled out to get people to the game because “it’s never the same unless you’re at the game”. Watch it here.