Four rugby league coaches with the axe looming

 
Ryan O'Connell Columnist

By , 5 Jun 2012 Ryan O'Connell is a Roar Expert

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    Ricky Stuart illustration by David Green Cartoonist

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    Who would be a rugby league coach? Pressure is your best friend, stress is your closest colleague, and unemployment is your next career move.

    It was once said that there are two types of coaches: ones that have been fired, and ones that are waiting to be fired. Sadly, for the four men listed below, they currently fall under that second category:

    David Furner

    The speculation about Furner has been rife all season long. Bizarrely, before the Raiders had even opened their 2012 campaign, there were whispers that Furner was under pressure.

    Canberra started the season solidly, and the talk died down. However, the Raiders are currently struggling considerably, and the whispers have become shouts once again.

    The Raiders have a formidable forward pack with plenty of size, along with solid talent in the backs. Whilst they have had some injury concerns, there is no excuse for them to be as poor as they’ve been, especially defensively. They’re a better side than 15th on the ladder.

    Furner’s decision to switch Josh Dugan to five-eighth was either going to be a masterstroke, or the sign of a desperate man.

    The 40-0 score line versus the Tigers on the weekend would indicate that it’s probably the latter.

    Stephen Kearney

    It’s not exactly a bold prediction to place Kearney on this list. Parramatta have been woeful all season long, Kearney has been hauled in front of the Eels board on at least two occasions, and he even received the traditional kiss of death in the form of public backing from the Chairman.

    Before last night’s win, the latest reports were that Kearney had two weeks to save his job, with Jason Taylor and Ricky Stuart already mentioned as replacements.

    Let’s be honest, this isn’t a case of gossip or innuendo. When a club is bolted to the bottom of the ladder, the coach is on borrowed time.

    Whilst the problems at Parramatta are much bigger than Kearney, it’s always an easy out to simply fire the coach, and despite the victory over the Sharks, Kearney would be feeling far from secure.

    Ricky Stuart

    Stuart was appointed to the New South Wales head coaching job in 2011 to much fanfare.

    After last year’s State of Origin series, many pundits credited Stuart with restoring some pride in the Blues jumper, and legitimately challenging Queensland’s dominance.

    However, any way you want to frame it, should the Blues lose next Wednesday night, then Stuart has presided over two series losses.

    All the talk about how much the Blues are improving is a moot point. Results are the only thing that matter at State of Origin level, and Stuart will have come home empty handed two years in a row.

    Throw in his inconsistent selection policies, and a reputation for being a whinger, and would it really shock anyone if he was fired at the end of another unsuccessful Origin campaign?

    Wayne Bennett

    The super coach under pressure? Madness, I hear you say! Perhaps, but hear me out.

    Nathan Tinkler is as impatient as he is successful. He’s also hot headed with a quick trigger finger. He doesn’t suffer fools, or lack of success, gladly.

    Bennett is certainly no fool, but he is yet to bring much success to the Hunter Region.

    I can assure you that when Tinkler signed Wayne Bennett’s fat cheque, it wasn’t in the hope that the Knights would be sitting in 13th place. Perhaps expectations for Newcastle were a touch unfair, but by the same token, they shouldn’t be well outside the top eight either.

    Bennett’s shadow, Darius Boyd, has been well down on form. They’ve lost skipper Kurt Gidley for the season. The attack has spluttered and lacked cohesion. And the Knights defence has conceded a whopping 247 points.

    Whilst you could argue that’s not all the coaches fault, the harsh reality is that if you’re going to take the big money, then with the kudos also comes the blame.

    I don’t think Bennett is under any real pressure of being fired just yet, but knowing Tinkler, he’d probably want to get his Knights firing very soon.

    Ricky Stuart illustration by David Green Cartoonist

    Ryan is an ex-representative basketballer who shot too much, and a (very) medium pace bowler. He's been with The Roar as an expert since February 2011, has written for the Seven Network and NBA Down Under, and been a regular on ABC radio. Ryan tweets from @RyanOak.

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