What a year it’s been for NRL coaches. Steve Kearney sacked; Brian McLennan all but gone from the Warriors; Dave Furner has been under pressure for the past three years or so; and Brian Smith is out of favour with some of his senior players.
It really is a tough gig to take on, not just for yourself but for your family, who come under immense pressure from the media virtually every day of the week.
Some coaches struggle to handle that intensity, which is heightened by the (sometimes unrealistic) expectations of the fans.
That said, a number of coaches deserve the heat they’re currently facing.
I was at the Roosters versus Saints match the other week, for instance, and it was noticeable that many of the Roosters fans went to the ground actually expecting their team to lose.
And it’s not hard to see why.
The team looks so disorganized, and they’re lacking ideas and direction from their halves. Apparently, Mitchell Pearce is at loggerheads with Smith, which probably goes a long way to explaining the way the side has performed this season.
Have you noticed how the most successful NRL coaches never have their dirty laundry aired by players or officials?
The players at these clubs just know that the coach is in control.
Every club has issues. But it comes down to how you treat the players. After all, they’re the ones who take the field every week.
Consistently successful coaches – such as Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler and Wayne Bennett – command respect. They’ve gotten to the point where, through hard work and determination, their senior players now believe in anything they do or say.
And if players don’t buy into their approach, they’re generally discarded.
Bellamy has gotten rid of a lot of players over the years. So has Hasler.
At the same time, they have a good eye for new additions to the squad that other coaches mightn’t have spotted. Look at guys like Brian Norrie and Jason Ryles at the Storm, or Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett at the Bulldogs.
Bellamy and Hasler have that unique ability to get the best out of players like this. And the players themselves know that they have a very specific role to play on the field, so they don’t have to worry about anything else except their own game.
Wayne Bennett has earned the respect of his players over a very successful 20 years or so. It’s very hard to consistently win games of football, so when you do it more often than not, you tend to get the support of the players – regardless of which club you’re at.
Geoff Toovey entered this season as one of the coaches under the most pressure: he inherited a team that had won the grand final and he had a number of key players coming off contract.
He was a first time head coach under immense scrutiny.
Combine that with the fact he’s only had his best side on the field for a few games this season and you get a real appreciation for what a superb job he’s done so far.
The story is very different for those coaches whose sides are at the bottom of the ladder. They face an uncertain future, and rightly so.
Yup, who would want to be an NRL coach these days?
Haz
Guest
But the best players have far more than 1/17th of an influence on the team. Great players not only make other players around them look good, but also guide their teams around the park. Think about the sort of game Darren Lockyer played... everyone playing outside him knew exactly what they were supposed to be doing. The great fullbacks aren't just great individual defenders--they tell their teammates exactly where they need to be.
Eleanor Kite
Guest
Dogs of War this is good on so many levels. League talk needs more psychological analysis. I would add: confusing the gurglings of the unconscious with the voice of God, and apply it pretty much across the board.
Eleanor Kite
Guest
You have to feel for them. Having to string all those football-related cliches together every week even (or especially) when they're totally redundant must take a terrible toll..
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
Smith is a great coach. He battles against the constant media hammering from Rothfield et al. He has regulalry taken underperforming sides and turned them into successful competitive outfits. His longevity at the top level speaks for itself. His latest battle has been the perception that Mitchell PEarce has not developed into a top shelf half at Origin level because he is not tutored adequately at club level. This is complete garbage, a myth created by those looking for excuses for NSW losses. I am sure Bellamy and Bennett are great coaches, but both have benefitted from having star studded teams other coaches could only dream about. I recall Gus Gould saying once that a coach is = in contribution to one of the 17 players. So having a great coach is the equal to having one great player. Those who bag coaches of teams on the lower rungs of the NRL ladder should remember that.
planko
Guest
Coaching is like any managment role you have to bring the best in people and if you dont you get punted. Private enterprise is no different.
turbodewd
Guest
Sorry mate, the original article should get some roar roaring on The Roar. Here, let me spice things up about coaches. I think Daley would make a terrible NSW coach, he just isnt smart, he is not a strategist. When you listen to his call on Fox Sports he is inarticulate and states the bleeding obvious. Now Phil Gould however, he makes insights, he is smart, he makes interesting observations all the time. At times Gould sounds bitter and angry on TV, but we've got to take the good with the bad Im afraid. Gould was a great coach in charge of a great NSW team back in the day. Daley for NSW = disaster. Happy to be proven utterly wrong, but that is my prediction for 2013 if he gets the gig. (Did u read all this Gary, youve got to be prepared to call it like it is or you will bore us Roarers to tears and make yourself look uninteresting).
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Maybe 300 or 400k a year has something to do with it. If you sign a 2 year contract and get sacked after 1, well id be happy to win that on lotto.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
It is a tough gig to be a first grade coach. No stability in the position if your name is not Bennett, Bellamy, Hasler and Sheens.
Albo
Guest
"Yup, who would want to be an NRL coach these days?" I would ! They make a sh%t load more than me ! And spend all their whole time watching footy ! Where else do you find a job that good ? The problem is not neccessarily the coaches but the the clubs' administration. Fair dinkum ! How can you blame Ivan Cleary for the Panthers performances this year ! He has 3 capable first graders (who are about to leave the club) and the rest are fringe reserve graders ! Who is recruiting the cattle out there ? What is the mighty Gus doing ? Same at Parra ! Apart from Jarryd Hayne & Hindy who else in their roster would get a first grade spot at another club ? How can you blame Kearney ! Despite a recent couple of wins ! Has Brad Arthur made all the difference ? The exception for me is the Roosters ! The Brian Smith factor is a special case ! They seem to have cattle and smart administrators, but Smith seems to have a limited life span of no more than 2 years at a club, before toxicity sets in ! Of course you can say Bellamy, Bennett and Hasler always do well. But thats because they have good cattle to put on the park thanks to good administrations that support them with good scouts and deal makers ! I think there there is far too much blame and praise attributed to the coaches . The successful clubs are those with professional administrations supporting their footy teams !
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
I think really he just needs to spend 1 hr respond to the comments and it will get ten times more comments as people know they may get a response from Wiz himself and learn something about the game.
turbodewd
Guest
Mr Freeman, some feedback for you. Ive noticed your posts arent generating much buzz or interest. I think the problem is that your posts are a bit safe; they speak the obvious; they dont challenge or stir. This article doesnt say anything new, it doesnt criticise nor make any great insights. Is NRL coaching tough? Yes, we all know that. Are there some good coaches? Yes, you've pointed out that as well. Again, we all know this. I'm really not reading any great insights...maybe I will in the next Gary Freeman article. C'mon man, you've got it in you. Say something interesting or controversial. Put your heart on your sleeve please. Stand for something - anything. Pick a topic youre passionate about and tell us why we should come to your way of thinking. I mean Andrew Voss, single-handedly, change the corner post rule for the better. C'mon Gary, speak your mind.
steve b
Roar Guru
Geez WTF is going on here !
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Nacissism. Traits and signs (people will display some or all of these). An obvious self-focus in interpersonal exchanges Problems in sustaining satisfying relationships A lack of psychological awareness (see insight in psychology and psychiatry, egosyntonic) Difficulty with empathy Problems distinguishing the self from others (see narcissism and boundaries) Hypersensitivity to any insults or imagined insults (see criticism and narcissists, narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury) Vulnerability to shame rather than guilt Haughty body language Flattery towards people who admire and affirm them (narcissistic supply) Detesting those who do not admire them (narcissistic abuse) Using other people without considering the cost of doing so Pretending to be more important than they really are Bragging (subtly but persistently) and exaggerating their achievements Claiming to be an "expert" at many things Inability to view the world from the perspective of other people Denial of remorse and gratitude
BennO
Guest
Never mind the coaches, why would you want to be a ref in the NRL?
steve b
Roar Guru
Yeh Wiz your supposed to be the expert how about some feedback on comments left or whats the point ! ha ha hows it going Wiz ...
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Having been a player at that level Wiz, and worked underneath many types of coaches, what are you thoughts on what style of coach you respond to most. We really need to have a Q&A day online with you mate.