WIZ: Stuart comes to the rescue, but can he perform a miracle?
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New South Wales Blues rugby league coach, Ricky Stuart, announces his side for State of Origin Game 2 2012 (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
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All the rumours suggest that Ricky Stuart will very shortly be announced as the new head coach of Parramatta. The club is clearly in crisis and they need some direction, but can Stuart really turn things around?
His move back to club football will leave a big hole with the Blues.
He’s done a superb job rallying the NSW players over the past few State of Origins and getting them to within a whisker of snatching the latest series from the Maroons.
And it’s very evident that Parramatta need some sort of direction.
Stuart is a no-nonsense type of character who will fix the front desk problems that have plagued the club in recent times. And as a former great halfback, he will hopefully work some magic with the out-of-form Chris Sandow, who is vital to the Eels finals chances.
But is he the right man for the job?
The biggest problem he faces is with the personnel. He will inherit pretty much the same squad that has been so dismal for much of this season.
Can he attract any big name players to the club? Are there any left on the open market that would be prepared to come to a club that is, in all likelihood, going to struggle for a few more seasons at least?
Whichever way you look at it, Stuart will have a massive job trying to turn Parramatta around.
As will Souths over the next few weeks with their star fullback, Greg Inglis, rubbed out by the judiciary.
I thought Inglis was unlucky.
I know Young got hit in the head, but it wasn’t reckless or intentional. And I think he should have really been battling a downgraded charge to begin with, rather than trying to fight off a 5 week suspension.
He’ll be sorely missed by the in-form Bunnies.
It was just another strange decision by the match review committee, who have also got Travis Burns on the rack facing a ridiculous 17 week ban from the game.
I love the way Burns plays. He’s hard and tough. But to carry over the loading from a few years back to compound his most recent charges is just unfair.
He shouldn’t be punished for something that happened so long ago.
In fact, every tackle and every run with he ball he’s had since then should have counted as points against that earlier charge.
The events of the past week show that we need to look again at how the charges are determined and the public and the media need to better understand how it all works.
It’s just never been properly explained.
Gary 'Wiz' Freeman is one of the great halfbacks in New Zealand rugby league history. Now an outspoken and popular media personality, he joined The Roar in 2012 as an expert rugby league columnist, and continues in 2013.
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July 27th 2012 @ 9:08am
Frank The Tank said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:08am | Report comment
The good thing about Ricky Stuart going to Parra is he can’t stuff that club up like he did the last 4 teams he’s coached casue they are already stuffed up. Roosters and Cronulla he left them in a rut despite what he had achieved during his time there, Australia he managed to lose to NZ and then try to blame the refs, NSW he picks one of the worst teams in Game 1 and then somehow manages not to coach the team but be a puppet for the media the whole time and wonders why we came so close.
I think a bunch of low breeds like Parra deserve one of the games greatest imposters. Good luck Sticky, have fun with Sandow, Souths don’t miss him one bit.
July 27th 2012 @ 9:22am
PLANKO said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:22am | Report comment
It is a great gig he can’t go any worse !!! It is not poisonous chalice. If it works he is a legend. If it does not well it was stuff when I got here .
July 27th 2012 @ 9:23am
Chop said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:23am | Report comment
As a Parra member, I’m gutted that it’s signing Ricky Stuart. Look at what he did at the Sharks 12 wins in 2 years, that’s only 3 games better than Kearney, to me, that’s not a record I’m encouraged by.
I think we’re still stuffed next year, maybe 2014 he will be able to recruit some players and we can start again (AGAIN)
The front office is where the changes need to take place, when they ousted Fitzgerald the place has gone to crap on the field even if it’s improved off it….I’d love to see Daniel Anderson brought back to the club but that was a political sacking so it won’t happen until the front office is changed.
July 27th 2012 @ 9:30am
Big D said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Frank the tank / u took the words right out of my mouth. One of the most classless acts to ever be a coach (that disgraceful tirade after the Kangeroos loss will never be forgotten). Parra – a club in continual crisis continuing to make inept decisions. Paying overs for players is another of their flaws. The club is a debacle – so glad I wasnt born an Eels supporter.
July 27th 2012 @ 9:57am
doozel said | July 27th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Amazed how Ricky has manufactured himself into a “super coach”, at Roosters he was on the coat tails of Gus and had Freddie leading the team. Good luck Parra fans…
July 27th 2012 @ 11:49am
Aaron said | July 27th 2012 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Agreed. I think everyone buys into his persona. He has all the talk about culture and building foundations and all this other crap. The way he behaves during press conferences, he tries to emulate Bennent. He portrays himself as being some kind of master coach. In reality he has acheived very little, and has taken no accountability for his failures. Which to say, far outweigh his successes. I find it hard to understand why he is held in such high regard?
July 27th 2012 @ 10:05am
Dayer said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:05am | Report comment
overrated coach in Australia, too much hype by the media. Only time will tell if he can lead the eels from the bottom. Good luck to him
July 27th 2012 @ 10:12am
Todd Slater said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:12am | Report comment
In a word no.
Just like how the porch light is still on on the shire – we are all still waiting for little Ricky’s miracle’s to materialise. Another one of Gould’s anointed one’s, who even old Bozo couldn’t help this year.
Two out of six for NSW, kicking, screaming & whinging the whole way through – always the victim of something, with a local media who dare not criticise him.
$800k a year to coach a club that is arguably more internally messed up than Manly & that hasn’t been strong as Bennett said this week since Jack Gibson then John Monie ran the show over 25 years ago.
Good luck with that one.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:25am
tonysalerno said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
It will take time for the eels to get back to the top; but once they are there they will be strong. It’s all about setting the priorities straight- firstly getting off the bottom of the table ( by becoming competitive) then ascending up the ladder.
It will be a challenge for the parramatta eels but i think they have the right man for the job.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:38am
wMc said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Loser club appoints Loser coach – i hope for their sake 2 wrongs do make a right!
July 27th 2012 @ 11:50am
Aaron said | July 27th 2012 @ 11:50am | Report comment
Well, they’re at the bottom of the ladder. At least they can’t get any worse.
July 27th 2012 @ 10:48am
Sel said | July 27th 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
I don’t follow league too closely. However this seems to be “labor like union appointment”. He hasn’t won anything with the Blues. I think he was just as bad at his last club. It’s a job for the boys. And he is shocking on TV. Always complaining while giving no credit to the opponents.