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.
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.
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.
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.
john
Guest
He was working with unpaid players and players that were looking at the possibility of not getting paid for putting their bodies on the line. I don't know about you, but I'm not putting my body on the line if I'm not getting paid for it. The major difference between professional sportspeople and normal sportspeople is that one does it as a career.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Good article Adam but, I agree and disagree with your statement(s) of "He will try to help reduce the clear gap between them and the Roosters and Storm" and then "Is it the right move? I don’t think so" yes Adam, there is a gap there and no matter what Bennett does it won't reduce the gap, if the Bunnies don't fill those weaknesses up and recruit better players. Bennett hasn't got the problems in the half's (at Souths) like he had with Hunt/Milford as Nikorima is a good one and has done all and more than it was ever required of him, which were Bennett's past failures with the Broncs (Milford has come good in patches (but, anything could happen with Milford in a season?) while Hunt has been a such a hot/cold plater at the Broncs (and to a large extent at the Dragons too, in 2019) that Bennett's efforts far exceeded what Hunt could deliver and most certainly cost the Broncs a certain GF win in 2015.
Theo
Roar Rookie
There are three schools of thought. For Brisbane, it's easier to release coach Bennett than the entire team. For Souths, coach Seibold proves that a good man is hard to keep. Perhaps it's a case of Souths wanting coach Bennett more than coach Seibolt and Brisbane wanting coach Seibolt more than coach Bennett and both being Queenslanders made it a smooth transition. Coach Maguire and coach Cleary have New Zealand connections, coach Macguire New Zealand coach and coach Cleary New Zealander, which makes their transfer smooth as well.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Fred, I've looked at this article for 2 days wondering how to comment with a stiff upper lip You nailed it in the first 10 seconds . Lol, cry, lol, etc.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
He only won 34 of 75 games. I'd call that struggling
Larry1950
Guest
Results driven occupation with CEO's necks on the block as well as coaches if clubs continue to fail. I think there's some truth in the need for a lot of players to hear a different message after a few years, I'm sure some would tune out at times, they're not all Rhodes scholars & have that manager telling them how good they are & poor team form is someone else's fault. Just hope common sense prevails and Bennett swaps with Seibold this upcoming season.
Big Daddy
Guest
In some ways I don't blame the coaches. Its the CEO s and football manager's at clubs who orchestrate a lot of this. Not too forget the slimy managers for players and coaches who love this sort of garbage. Don't forget the coach's who have been easily sacked in the past just because of some player or official who hasn't liked them.
ferret
Guest
Wests are winners for mine. They now have stability (well as much as can be expected in these unusual times) with Madge for three years. With Cleary in 2019 it would have been a major distraction ("when is he going to the Panthers?"). Madge is a hard nut who will bring discipline and a hard edge to the Tigers. Also having been in the "wilderness" for 12 months Maguire will want to prove a point. Although Souths were stale toward then end of Madge's time, coaches can learn to adapt as well. For example, I think Hook Griffin was very limited at the Broncos but did a really good job in his second stint at the Panthers - who did really well with a horrendous injury list in 2018. Much credit to Hook; pity he bumped up against Gus/God Gould. So Hook learned form his limitations at the Broncos and came back a better coach. So for mine Wests get the biggest advantage in the coaching reshuffle.
Nico
Guest
"With the Knights he showed he struggles with a poor roster" - Knights under Bennett got to the prelims for the first time in over a decade, not sure I see your point here
Paul
Roar Guru
I think all these sides lose, at least in their first seasons, as players learn new combinations tactics, patterns, etc. Coaches will also want the players on their rosters who they think can meet the coaches plans, so that's another factor in the first 12 months. If all these moves take place before the 2019 season starts, next year's comp is going to be even more topsy turvey than this year.
Sludge McFlurrey
Guest
Tell him , he’s dreamin.
Fred
Guest
Wests Tigers, guaranteed premiers in 2019! In Madge we trust!