Ricky Stuart’s tenure as coach of the Parramatta Eels has officially begun with sessions held this week in Sydney’s golden west. A new era is here for the Eels and their fans.
But if history is anything to go by, Chris Sandow should be shaking in his boots.
The long line of playmakers that have fallen by the wayside under Stuart is scary. Whether it be via an early release, poor off-field behaviour or simply not getting along.
There is something awfully shady about Stuart and his history with halfbacks.
From his time at the Sydney Roosters and the Cronulla Sharks, things never seem to work out for the sixes and sevens.
Things had been prickly for a long time between Stuart and then Cronulla Sharks captain Brett Kimmorley when Ricky joined the Sharkies back in 2007.
Despite having won a premiership with the Melbourne Storm and leading Cronulla to the grand final qualifier in 2008 under Stuart, Kimmorley was shown the door in favour of Trent Barrett.
Stuart tried to explain himself in an article for The Telegraph back in 2009.
“I learnt that Kimmorley was not a big-match player – not the kind who can get you over the line in big games, like Andrew Johns or Darren Lockyer. And I knew that when I later moved to Cronulla,” Stuart said.
“We tried our best to work together, but it didn’t work.”
Remember that these were successful clubs. The Roosters had won a premiership under Ricky in 2002 and the Sharks had placed equal first in 2008.
Yet he was still sacking guys. From Brett Kimmorley to Luke Dorn. It simply doesn’t matter who you are.
What does Stuart deep down really think of Sandow and the Eels than?
Sandow is on a huge contract and was miserable this season for his new club. The guy is missing plenty of things that Ricky requires.
The diminutive halfback has to start from scratch and play for Ricky or risk being booted out the backdoor.
Stephen Kearney tried to change him and failed. How is the new coach going to do it?
Stuart is probably best just punting him altogether and finding someone else.
Even after he has left a club, his fingerprints are there for all to see.
After being sacked from the Sydney Roosters at the end of 2006, bad things continued to happen at Bondi.
Craig Wing quickly turned his back on the club to join rivals South Sydney and Brett Finch asked for a release to join the Eels. Jamie Soward was sacked in 2007 after 22 games too.
Sharks’ halves were not safe even after Stuart had stood down in 2010.
Scott Porter was released from the club in 2011 after 22 games and Albert Kelly has since been given the flick from both the Sharks and the Newcastle Knights.
“I am really looking forward to it [training],” Ben Roberts told The Sunday Telegraph on the weekend.
“It will give us a taste of what life will be like under Ricky and allow us to think about that over the off-season and prepare.
“We didn’t have a great season and we want to do everything we can to turn it around. I honestly think we did pretty well towards the end of the season and we stuck together as a group.
“We want to make amends for the season and we are looking forward to getting stuck into it with Sticky.”
Don’t get too comfortable, Ben. You’re on the chopping block too.
Playmakers under Stuart: Roosters 2002-2006
Paul Green 2002: Injured knee round one and did not return at the Roosters
Justin Holbrook 2002: four games and never seen again
Sam Obst 2002: seven games over two years before leaving for the UK
Craig Wing 2002-2007: Returned to Souths in 2007
Brett Finch 2003-2007: Asked for a release to join Parramatta
Luke Dorn 2004: 1 game before leaving for the UK
Brett Firman 2005: Released after four games to join North Queensland
Jamie Soward 2005-2007: 22 games before being released
Josh Lewis 2006: 12 games before being released
Sharks 2007-2010
Adam Dykes 2007: One year under Stuart before leaving for the UK
Brett Kimmorley 2007-2008: Left for the Bulldogs after plenty of issues with Stuart
Brett Seymour 2007-2009: Sacked after a string of alcohol fuelled incidents
Anthony Watts 2007: Five games before being released for disciplinary reasons
Blake Green 2008-2009: Joined the Bulldogs after only 19 games
Brett Kearney 2008-2009: Suffered injury round one 2009 before leaving for the UK
Trent Barrett 2009-2010: Retired in 2010 despite pleas from the Sharks to play on
Scott Porter 2009-2010: Released in 2011 after 22 games
Albert Kelly 2010: Released from both the Sharks and the Knights
Tim Smith 2010: Axed to NSW Cup shortly after signing
paul
Guest
Stuarts a bad coach come on wooden spoon cronulla next year made the 8 wooden spoon roosters, then most consecutive origin loses then losing our first world cup in decades ,not coincidence
paul
Guest
I disagree i think if sandow doesnt fire its cause of stuart he will only b able to play stuarts game not his own ,cant believe parra got stuart he is the most unsuccesfulcoach altime his taken clubs from grand final 1 year to wooden spoon the next lookat roosters sharks soo as he left they made the 8 he also lost us the most consecutive origins in history and our first world cup in decades ,bad decision
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Haha, that is true JZ.. I couldn't resist that one ;)
JZ
Guest
joke ! they may have gone over the salary cap, but those players still where the best team one the day
Bazzio
Roar Guru
If Sandow can get away from gambling and donuts, he might - just might - have a future
Andy
Guest
If Hayne was working under Hasler he could be a star, instead he will continue to have mediocre defense.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
You could argue that Stuart has won more premierships than Bellamy though. :)
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
That's just one example of his freakish talent...whilst he hasn't been able to consistently reproduce that in the last few seasons, I think that is more of a reflection on how lazy the guy is...not his talent. I'm hoping Ricky can get something out of the guy that Steve Kearney couldn't. Jarryd needs a mentor who isn't afraid to administer some 'tough love' and drop him down to NSW Cup when he isn't working hard and when he is just a passenger coasting off his former glories. I know he's still got it in him, he just needs a tough, but fair mentor. So many Hayne haters out there crap on about how sh*te he is, but Australians are known for enjoying the chopping down of tall poppies.
Johnno
Guest
JZ I mean parra have a former great halfback as head coach who is equal of Peter stelring. So sticky's prescence may kill off the sterling ghost that seems to hover over Parra, and sticky can finally put that to rest and hodoo.
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Hayne not a quality fullback? That's ridiculous. Moltzen isn't fit to wipe Haynes ***hole, so that comparison is a moot point. Now in saying that, the work ethic of Hayne really sucks. But if he snapped out of that gen-y work ethic and worked as hard as Benny Barba has this year, he would be on par with Barba. No one can argue that Hayne is not one of the most talented, naturally gifted players in the NRL(check his CVG rankings when he is fit and not playing 5/8), in my opinion and the opinion of plenty of other experts and their analysis(not saying I am an expert by the way). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVol-ruR-cI Keep in mind the dragons had the best defence in the NRL that year in the regular season.
JZ
Guest
what do you mean ?
JZ
Guest
another Preston Campbell i feel
David
Guest
"Ricky hasn’t won a Origin series against Qld" He won in 2005.
LRR
Guest
A lot of teams would be quite happy with a Hayne/Sandow combination. If Parra isn't they should look at moving them on because these is a third of their cap!
beyond the stump
Guest
Spot on JZ!!! Every team Sticky touches goes on a downward spiral. On the plus side, the Eels can't get any lower can they?
beyond the stump
Guest
And it was only after Stuart touched the NSW team that they went on their longest losing streak!!!
steve b
Roar Guru
As i said if he dosen't fire it will be a club decision to boot him not just Stuart !!
Johnno
Guest
-Quirky little fact here. All these halves who have lived in Peter Sterling's shadow. In a weird way now sticky is there, he has closed that shadow as Ricky didn't live in peter sterling's shadow, so he will release the pressure valve on halfback there. And he has now closed peter sterling's shadow as now parra have found sterlo's equal.
betts
Guest
The Guru strikes again!
George
Guest
Im a Bulldogs fan and i laughed when i saw Roberts head to Parra. No doubt he has some good qualities about him but he has been way too inconsistant for way too long now and to be considered a first grade player nowadays is to the detriment of the clubs juniours coming through. Sandow on the otherhand is a player you can work with to improve. Similar to Roberts but unlike Roberts has time on his hands to improve. He just needs to be a more structured player who can be adhoc on occasions, not the other way around. And for the love of god, can someone pleasse tell him to stop those stupid shoulder charges! GI made him look so stupid i actually felt sorry for my Parra supporting mates (and i hate Parra with a passion).. As effective as they may have been at times, a halfback should not be using up energy on silly things like that.