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North Queensland boss Peter Parr has warned the Cowboys players they’re “sadly mistaken” if they believe immediate success will flow following the resignation of Graham Murray today.
Murray, 53, informed club officials and players this morning he was quitting as head coach, less than 48 hours after the Cowboys’ fourth straight defeat, a 38-6 loss to Manly.
Assistant coach Ian Millward, who last week signed a two-year deal with Canberra, will tomorrow be named as caretaker coach until Raiders mentor Neil Henry ends his 2008 commitments.
Murray, who guided North Queensland to the 2005 grand final, has told club officials he will never coach again.
“Graham has made the decision on his own and we agreed that was probably in the best interests of the club,” Parr told AAP from Sydney today.
“There’s no doubt he’s had a wonderful career and he’s telling me and other people that he won’t coach again.
“If this is the last time he’s coached, he can be very proud of what he’s achieved.
“He’s been criticised in the past for not winning a premiership but some of his coaching feats have shown that he’s a class act.
“Whilst it hasn’t ended in the circumstances we’ve all wanted, you can’t deny what he’s done for this club.
“I suppose it’s tough to get the fairytale finish in rugby league.”
In the past two seasons, both Parramatta and Sydney Roosters have enjoyed mid-season revivals after Brian Smith and Chris Anderson respectively were shown the door.
Under Jason Taylor in 2006, the Eels became the first team in premiership history to make the finals after changing their coach mid-season, winning ten of their last 16 matches.
The Roosters were anchored near the bottom of the table when Brad Fittler replaced Anderson in July last year and then embarked on a five-match unbeaten streak before just missing a top eight spot.
Parr warned the struggling Cowboys, who enjoy a bye this weekend, not to expect instant results following Murray’s departure.
“If the players think just because the coach has changed things will automatically happen for them, they’re sadly mistaken,” Parr said.
“They’ve got to ensure they come back to training next week with a real determination to finish off this season as best as they possibly can.”
The rumour mill that Murray would be sacked went into overdrive last week when several large bets were placed on him being the first coach to go in 2008.
“It’s not the way I wanted to leave,” said Murray, adding he made the decision to quit about 10 days ago.
“I’m not bitter about it and once upon a time I did say I would walk away.
“But this is about the club, it’s not about the individual, this is about trying to get this club back on track.
“And the best interest of the club is for me to resign.
“It might sound corny but I do love the club. I think the best way is for me toI step aside and give someone else a go and try to get us back up to where we were.”
A former Parramatta and South Sydney player, Murray began his first grade coaching career with Illawarra in 1991.
He’s since coached the Hunter Mariners, English club Leeds, Sydney Roosters, North Queensland and NSW Origin.
Along with the Cowboys, he took the Roosters to a grand final, in 2000, but was unable to win a premiership and also failed to win an Origin series as Blues coach in 2006-07.
“In his tenure we played in 10 finals, including a grand final, and we’ve come up with some wonderful achievements,” Parr said.
“Since his arrival (at the Cowboys in 2002) there’s been an expectation that we will win.
“His legacy is that he’s changed the mindset of the people of North Queensland.”
Murray, who said he would still cheer for the Cowboys, will remain in Townsville.
Factbox on Graham Murray following his resignation as North Queensland rugby league coach today.
Born: January 6, 1955
Age: 53Previous appointments:
Lismore Workers Club 1985
Penrith reserve grade 1986-87
Balmain reserve grade 1988-89
Illawarra first grade 1991-95
Hunter Mariners first grade 1997
Leeds head coach 1997-99
Sydney Roosters first grade 2000-01
City Origin 2001-04
North Queensland 2002-08
NSW State of Origin 2006-07
Playing record: 88 first grade matches – 45 games for Parramatta 1977-79; 43 games for Souths 1981-83.
Coaching achievements: Won reserve grade premiership with Penrith 1987
Won Tooheys Challenge with Illawarra 1992
Took Illawarra to their first final series 1992
Took Leeds to the Super League grand final 1998
Won Challenge Cup with Leeds 1999
Took Sydney Roosters to the NRL grand final 2000
Took North Queensland to their first final series 2004
Took North Queensland to their first grand final 2005
NRL premiership record: 331 matches, 168 wins, 156 losses, 7 draws
Winning percentage: 50.8%
Record with North Qld: 161 matches, 79 wins, 81 losses, 1 draw
Winning percentage: 49.1%Source: David Middleton, League Information Services.
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