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The NRL's game of musical coaches kicks into gear

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Roar Guru
26th October, 2018
12

Off season? What off season? There is no such thing in the crazy world of rugby league.

Wayne Bennett is confirmed to coach the Rabbitohs in 2020, Ivan Cleary moves to Penrith, likely ahead of the 2019 season, to be replaced at the Tigers by current New Zealand coach Michael Maguire, and Anthony Siebold reportedly has his eyes on the vacant Broncos job in 2019.

There is no way the Rabbitohs, Tigers or Broncos will allow their current coaches to go through the motions next year with their hearts lying elsewhere.

I’m expecting Bennett at the Bunnies ASAP and Siebold to head north to the Broncos while Cleary will join his son at the Panthers.

So who wins out of this?

The Panthers finally have the father-son combo that they desired, although they have reverted back to the coach Gus let go in 2015. It’s an awkward situation and I’m surprised Ivan hopped off the bus to head back to the foot of the mountains.

Maguire joins the Tigers with a proven track record, despite not finishing his tenure at the Rabbitohs that well.

His style can be very draining after a couple of years and he doesn’t have a great roster to work with so I’m not expecting too many miracles coming out of Concord during his three-year tenure.

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Siebold’s exit from the Rabbitohs is surprising but he probably moves to a better place. Brisbane boasts one of the best young backs in the competition in rookie star Jamayne Isaako so he must be looking forward to that next chapter in his career.

The Rabbitohs have turned to seven-time premiership winner Bennett to elevate them from contenders to premiers after a reasonably successful season. He will try to help reduce the clear gap between them and the Roosters and Storm.

Is it the right move? I don’t think so.

Bennett hasn’t won a premiership since way back in 2010 and has only tasted the ultimate success twice in the years following the Broncos triumph over the Roosters in 2000.

With the Knights he showed he struggles with a poor roster and while the Rabbitohs have a decent roster it’s not as good as it once was.

Rabbitohs players Tom and Sam Burgess

Can the Burgess brothers help Bennet lead the Rabbitohs? (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Robb Cox)

Outside the Burgess brothers, their pack is only ok and is weakened following the defection of Angus Crichton to the Roosters, while out wide Inglis is getting older and there are no genuine stars to replace him.

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Tevita Pangai Junior will commit to the Broncos for one more season so it remains to be seen whether he will head to Redfern ahead of the 2020 season. Or he may follow Bennett immediately, who really knows in rugby league.

If Bennett joins the Rabbitohs now, he will look to lure Pangai Junior with him.

It’s been a bizarre week and that’s not even going into the odd situation at Manly where they effectively have two head coaches with pre-season training just weeks away.

Barrett cannot stay in such a toxic environment but the cash-strapped club is playing hardball and refusing to pay him for the final year, or at least until July 2019.

As they say, a week is a long time in rugby league.

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