To be an NRL coach you need to be damn good – there’s maximum pressure and everything is overly scrutinised. While it’s a results-based role, some coaches without premierships are better than those who have won them.
A new coach with a weak roster who misses the eight isn’t necessarily poor. Likewise, good players make coaches look good.
This list of underrated or overrated bosses, the latter of which doesn’t mean they are not a good coach, but the media are much harsher on some coaches than others.
Underrated
Brad Arthur
The bloke had the Eels absolutely humming early last year and they would have improved much more without all the chaos.
He held the team together, made wise selection calls, and somehow had them still playing reasonable footy. The bloke would be dynamite with a good roster and front office.
Ricky Stuart
I’ve never understood why Ricky has copped so much criticism as a coach. His eye for talent and recruitment is second to none. The biggest factor on a coach’s success is being able to put together the best team with the resources available. He showed this at the Raiders and Sharks, while he cleaned out Parra and copped the needed short-term pain.
Nathan Brown
Gets a pass because he’s in charge of a club that’s struggling everywhere, but he’s starting to make some bold moves that will eventually pay off.
He seems to be targeting recruits based on character as well as ability, which is a smart move for a club on the rebuild. The Rabbitohs did this well a few years back.
Jason Taylor
Isn’t given his due credit for rebuilding the Rabbitohs, where he attracted good club men like Roy Asotasi and built his side around these types. Moving Robbie Farah on at the Tigers was the right move, which time will prove. I have the Tigers making the eight this year.
Neil Henry
He didn’t get a premiership at the Cowboys but his work with the Titans and Maroons shows he’s got the goods. The Gold Coast could do anything this year, but are only expected to challenge for the eight. I have them challenging for the top four and possibly the title.
Stephen Kearney
His work with the Kiwis was tremendous. His decision the exclude Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and use a different approach upfront was as unexpected as it was successful. As a club coach he had little success at Parra, but went back and spent more time under the best tutors in the game. Should find success this year as boss of the Warriors, but how he manages the travel will determine his success.
Overrated
Des Hasler
Persists with players in poor form, has blokes in the wrong positions, and has stuck with a halves combo and gameplan that clearly isn’t going to improve.
I’ll be shocked if the Dogs make the eight this year.
Michael Maguire
Was great with a talented squad that had a point to prove, but hasn’t adjusted his side to improve. Poor roster management will see the Bunnies as a fringe-eight side, a position they should not be in.
Anthony Griffin
Made poor selections at the Broncos but has done well so far at the Panthers. Still, I’ll be surprised if he’s the man to take Penrith deep into the finals.
Trent Robinson
I’m sure I’ll get crucified for his inclusion here, but the roster he took to three minor premierships was just insane. Letting James Maloney, his chief goal kicker, go without a sound replacement was strange, and his handling of youth last year was just bad.
While his record proves he can coach stars he crumbled under adversity and failed to adjust to accommodate young players. Senior players seemed to not be held accountable, and he didn’t adjust his gameplan.
Laurey Daley
A rep coach who is lucky to have had any success. While the Maroons have been great, Daley should have been able to do more. I like Peter Sterling more than Phil Gould, but I find myself agreeing with most of what ‘Gus’ says regarding the Blues. He would have been my pick as advisor, hands down.
Kevin Walters
The Maroons’ side has been together that long they don’t really need coaching. While I applaud and admire his banning of the emerging Maroons, his selections will hurt them through this transition. His favouritism towards the Broncos players and system will be a negative.
Indifferent
Craig Bellamy
The best there is right now. If he can maintain dominance after Smith and Cronk retire he will really cement his legacy.
Wayne Bennett
Probably the greatest coach for the longest period, but his roster management is slipping.
Paul Green
Won a title but with a hell of a lot still to prove. His lack of bold selections and recruitment in the offseason is worrying.
Shane Flanagan
Did very well to weather the storm of controversy and come back a strong coach, showed a lot of character. How he will adjust this season without Michael Ennis will show more, but it’s a big ask to replace him.
Trent Barrett
Hasn’t had much time to prove himself but he’s up against it. Not over or underrated yet, but I can’t see the Sea Eagles causing much trouble for the best sides this year.
Paul McGregor
Seems to be rated quite lowly in some quarters, so he’s in this column. Unlikely to get the Dragons firing much more than last year, his squad make-up and recruitment hasn’t been great.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
I totally agree, Walters SHOULD be the coach of the Broncos. Bennett's ego is now occupying the chair Kevy used to occupy as assistant coach so there was no room for him in the coaching box. Walters would have been able to recognise the need to change and would have seen these changes were made. As a former 5/8 I have no doubt he would recognise that Milford is NOT one and that Boyd would be a natural fit for this position. With Milford back at FB and Boyd at 5/8 taking some of the pressure off Hunt there would have been an instant improvement. They say that the captain of the Titanic was warned before he hit the iceberg but ignored all advice to change direction. Many believe he was too old and set in his ways to listen to reason and common sense (he was 62, 5 years younger than Bennett). Coincidence?
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
"Smile and wave boys, smile and wave." - Skipper (Madagascar)
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
All coaches and their abilities and talents are not created equal. They have to be judged with context. There are those coaches who excel with managing star-studded rosters; there are those who come to the fore instilling belief in underachievers; and there are coaches who are brilliant at building teams around three or four superstars and surrounding them with journeymen who become very good first grade players by having a simplified role to play within the team. They all require different management skills. At the end of the day looking at the winning percentage stat of coaches is pretty good platform to start any sort of meaningful comparison.
billyg
Roar Rookie
yep - the skipper should be the last one off the ship, not the first.
eels47
Roar Rookie
Flanagan has a stain on his resume with the whole Dank thing, but you can't deny his coaching credentials. On paper the Sharks were definitely not the top team last year, but he got them there. The other 3 you mention have not shown any signs of being a good coach yet, so can understand that. I don't think Hasler is overrated as such, but criticism of him is warranted. He had a great roster at Manly, and he took them to the finals every year, but so he should have. He went to the dogs and took them to the finals too, which was great. However, that game plan that got the dogs there isn't working anymore, but he has not made changes. I don't know if he too stubborn to say that he needs to change, or if he simply doesn't have any better ideas. A sign of a great coach is being able to adapt and change when needed, and at this stage, Hasler is not showing these qualities. I can't understand Walters being called overrated..... by all accounts he is a great coach and, in my opinion, should be coaching the Broncos stop the inevitable slide that they are on.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
"sunk the ship" the ship is right billyg. He skuttled the Eels and jumped ship for his dream job, coaching his beloved Raiders. What else would you call it when a coach sacks half his team mid season (at least he told them they would be playing elsewhere the following year) and then still expected them give him 100% each weak when he gave them the boot?
Jacko
Guest
Agent11 Kearney has coached 1 world cup winning team and 2 x 4 nations winning teams, including beating Australia in each of those tournaments, so not sure you can call that Over-rated. Most over-rated coach is Taylor. He has a job so that proves some one has over-rated his ability.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Anyone that would rate Taylor, McGregor, Barrett and Flanagan over Hasler and Maguire clearly hasn't got a clue. Or is "Art Vandelay" pulling our leg? Remember... "It's not a lie, if you believe it" - George Costanza
Agent11
Guest
I think Stephen Kearney is the definition of overrated. Now I'm not saying he can't coach but his track record is nothing great. Didn't rothfield rate him as one of the best coaches in the NRL before he had even coached a first grade game at Parra? Nathan Brown could be overrated. I'm not up to date with his stint in SL but he underachieved at the Dragons. Surprised he got another gig in the NRL with guys like Toovey, Cleary, Mick Potter even Rick Stone without clubs. Stuart was probably overrated a few years ago but he's getting results at the Raiders who have improved every year under him but this year will be his real test. Henry did wonders with the Titans last year but lets not forget his underwhelming period at the Cowboys, where he practically wasted Thurston in his prime. Green is just lucky JT has had a great run with injury and is still at the top of his game.
billyg
Roar Rookie
you are correct with what you say - he didn't have much to work and something needed to be done, however sacking all those players and therefore effectively removing the 1m that those players were contracted for began (or exacerbated - depending on the view you take) the constant cycle of trying to catch up. The back office absolutely let the club down the way it went about trying play catch up as a result of trying to consistently build a quality roster with one hand tied behind their back. No excuses for what occurred, but if they had let natural attrition takes it course, it would have been a shorter term fix. My personal feelings towards him was he sunk the ship and then was first one off it
Clinen
Guest
I think Flanagan is massively underrated. Sharks have been coached by some of the best - Norm Provan, Jack Gibson, John Lang, Chris Anderson, Ricky Stuart - none of them did what Flanagan did - win the premiership, babyyyy! :D
NSWelshman
Guest
So Taylor is underrated after coaching the Eels, Rabbitohs & Tigers since 2006 & achieving absolutely nothing during those coaching days. You have Nathan Brown as underrated after once again not achieving much & getting the wooden spoon with Newcastle, yet you have Barrett in the indifferent list after one year of coaching a rebuilt team & then say he's up against it but Newcastle is recruiting smart?? Not sure of the logic in any of that!
NSWelshman
Guest
Agree 100%........
Silvertail47
Roar Rookie
Taylor ,underrated ? Des overrated ? You serious ? Bennett indifferent? Tryn real hard not to lose it ,,,, so il just go for a walk and kick the dog on my way out ,,,, (no I won't kick my dog but it sounds good )
Nayfo
Guest
How can you be "indifferent" about Paul Mcgregor. All you can base it on is past performances and his record it rubbish. seriously don't get your thinking.
Nayfo
Guest
+1
McNaulty
Guest
Coaches are in general over rated in rugby league. I don't think the game needs them and would be better off going back to captain coaches so that the players get paid more. The players don't like playing the style of game the coaches all insist on now any more than fans like to watch it. Who wants to practice wrestling all day? The biggest thing for me is how gutless the coaches are. None of them have the courage or intelligence to be original. Or bring in a unique style of play. They all preach by the same conservative play book. And then they always try to blame the referees when they get beat. "We didn't score enough points, so the refs must have duded us"...no dude you just spent too much time practicing wrestling and structure and not enough time practicing risky skills.
Andre
Guest
Oh, and Taylor in charge for re building the Rabbitohs? You can thank Maguire and Rusty for that one. Taylor had nothing to do with it.
Andre
Guest
This is without a doubt the most terrible article I have ever read. Trent Robinson overrated? Please, he had a star-studded roster but you can't be that successful without a good coach. Poor management of his youth? Are you kidding? The way he has and continues to manage his youth is absolutely brilliant - the purchase of Michael Gordon is perfect for Latrell Mitchell's development, as is the purchase of Keary for Watson. Last season was hammered with injuries, off-field issues and senior players leaving. Taking six starting players out of ANY side and they would struggle. Brad Arthur? The way he handled the scrutiny and drama of 2016 was outstanding, thus some strong performances throughout the backend of last season. Des Hasler..overrated? Shouldn't have to justify. Trent Barrett has had one season as a first grade coach. There is no way you can say Nathan Brown is underrated..what do you have to justify?
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
How often do you hear that coaches live and die by results . If that is the yardstick its pretty tough to call Hasler overrated . Baz's statistics support that pretty clearly . I though Griffin had lost his mind thinking he could make the semis last year without Segyaro and Soward . Tough calls that were completely vindicated . I know it was only a trial , but I liked the way the Knights played last weekend . They played like a team and were putting in for each other . If Brown can pass on the spoon this year it would be remarkable . How you can be indifferent about Bellamy seems ridiculous to me . He has some superstars for sure , but regardless of his roster his sides are always hard to beat . He brings the young guys through and turns some older guys careers around for the better . You may not like some of his tactics but its hard to argue his results . I think Arthur is the goods ,for the many reasons layed out by Joe but this year will be the year he is judged on . Coaching is a tough gig for sure .