Let Ricky Stuart do both for sake of State

 
Curtis Woodward Roar Guru
 

By , 11 Aug 2012 Curtis Woodward is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger

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    New South Wales Rugby League general manager Geoff Carr is now prepared to do a back flip and allow a club coach to lead the NSW Blues State of Origin side.

    Every day this thing lingers, the further away Paul Gallen is from holding up the shield in 2013.

    So why hasn’t he already re-signed new Parramatta Eels mentor Ricky Stuart?

    “I’m contacting everybody that has been speculated on in the media or otherwise as a prospective NSW coach,” Carr told AAP on Thursday.

    “So then I can come up with a definitive list of who the board should be considering.

    “Before the board can consider any of these people, they’ve at least got to know whether they’re interested in the job.

    “So I’m trying to work through all those people and contact them in person about issues around Origin coaching.”

    Stuart has already laid the groundwork and has the Blues on the brink of an historic series victory.

    With the pressures and time needed to turn Parramatta’s fortunes around, people might wonder if Ricky can do both successfully.

    Indigenous All-Stars and Country Origin coach Laurie Daley has firmed as a favourite for the job if it was to be given to someone outside of club land.

    Canterbury Bulldogs assistant Jim Dymock, City coach Brad Fittler and Blues assistant Trent Barrett have also been bandied around.

    The fact is the Blues start again if they go away from Stuart.

    Blues icon Phil Gould believes club coaches are the best choice.

    “I’m not telling the NSW rugby league who to pick, I’m just saying if the current model excludes coaches like Ricky Stuart, Des Hasler and John Cartwright, then I suggest the model needs to be looked at,” Gould told the media on Thursday.

    ”The model was created to get Ricky into the job … they did a study and decided it had to be a non-club coach. [But] I don’t know if the model is right if those blokes can’t be considered.

    ”The other three or four candidates they’ve got – Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler, Trent Barrett, Jim Dymock – these are all non-NRL coaches.

    “I’m just saying it’s a huge ask on those boys, to be thrown into that sort of arena. It’s a pretty daunting exercise.”

    Realistically, Stuart should be able to come into camp prior to the games and have everything waiting for him. The youth camps, bonding sessions and everything else that comes with this great concept can be handled by the other candidates. Make them all assistants.

    None of those men will turn down an assistant’s position to help the cause. Stuart can give them notes and off they go. When game time comes around, Ricky wouldn’t have a worry about preparations. He can simply coach.

    The decision needs to be made now and give Stuart the chance to concentrate on Parramatta until the time comes to bring the shield back to New South Wales in 2013.

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