The world of rugby league never stands still, and there’ll be several clubs looking for a new coach for 2020 before the 2019 season’s out.
Newly appointed coaches Des Hasler, Wayne Bennett, Ivan Cleary, Anthony Seibold and Michael McGuire have reasonable expectations beyond 2019 with their clubs, although both Souths and the Broncos also have great expectations of their coaches.
Dean Pay, Stephen Kearney and Garth Brennan are also relatively recent appointments with teams that are rebuilding.
Craig Bellamy and his record at the Storm over 15 years, Trent Robinson and to a lesser extent Paul Green seem to have virtual lifetime coaching appointments.
That leaves five coaches looking over their shoulders.
John Morris, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The most vulnerable man on the list, Sharks interim coach John Morris says he wants the job permanently if it becomes available once Shane Flanagan’s fate is known, but if Flanagan comes back, he loses the job, and if he doesn’t, it’s up for grabs.
The Sharks are living in dreamland if they expect Flanagan back, and I expect they’ll be looking for a coach well before the end of the 2019 season.
Ricky Stuart, Canberra Raiders
Ricky Stuart, with over five years in charge of the Raiders, is probably the next most vulnerable.
Season 2018 will go down as the ultimate year of ‘what if’ for the Canberra Raiders after a number of close losses throughout the season left them in tenth position for the third time in the past four years.
| Year | Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | P’age | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 42 | 11th |
| 2008 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 25 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 72 | 3rd; lost grand final qualifier against Melbourne Storm |
| 2009 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 15th |
| 2013 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 21 | 16th |
| 2014 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 33 | 15th |
| 2015 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 42 | 10th |
| 2016 | Canberra Raiders | 27 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 70 | 2nd; lost preliminary final to Melbourne Storm |
| 2017 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 46 | 10th |
No-one can doubt the sideline commitment of Ricky Stuart in cold Canberra, but a finals finish is essential for another year of coaching.
Brad Arthur, Parramatta Eels
At the cellar dwellers Brad Arthur, with over five years in charge, led Parramatta to the club’s 14th wooden spoon, claiming only six wins all season. Arthur claimed responsibility for the season and the board admitted he will see out his contract that ends in 2019.
Will a finals finish in 2019 be good enough to save Brad Arthur?
Paul McGregor, St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons have a squad that they believe is capable of winning the premiership, and they won’t accept anything other than a strong finals performance from the coach.
After almost five years in charge, McGregor’s contract as coach expires at the end of 2019, and I doubt that the Dragons will be considering a midseason extension.
The Dragons have a premiership window, and despite losing Gareth Widdop at the end of 2019, they will have room in their salary for one or more star players to bolster their playing squad, particularly given other players, such as Tim Lafai, who is perceived to have underperformed since moving to the Dragons from the Bulldogs.
Accordingly, expect to see a fresh face as Dragons coach in 2020, unless they make the top four this season and play well in the finals.
Nathan Brown, Newcastle Knights
Nathan Brown, after over three years in charge of the Knights, has a great squad this year but will be expected to make the finals or heads may roll.
Brown joined the Knights in 2016, returning to Australia after coaching Huddersfield and St Helens in the English Premier League over a six-year period. He steered St Helens to a 2014 Super League championship.
A former hooker, Brown’s coaching career commenced in 2003 when he was appointed head coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons at the age of 29. He coached the Dragons until he linked with Huddersfield in 2009.
The Knights were desperate to break their hat-trick of wooden spoons and Newcastle’s season started with plenty of promise. With the 2018 signings of halfback Mitchell Pearce and fullback Kalyn Ponga they won five of their opening eight games to sit firmly inside the top eight. Consistency would come back to haunt them, with good wins quickly overshadowed by poor performances, particularly in defence.
The Knights have been rebuilding for the last few years but 2019 may be the time they expect a return from Brown with at least a finals finish.
Tony Milson
Guest
Many people out parra way will tell you Arthur has run his course, a brash screamer and shouter he has worn very thin with the playing group with one player openly questioning whether he can keep going under Arthur because he is individually going backwards (backrower). Time will tell I suppose, also Artur he is part of recruitment , himself , grima, sharp and field need to questioned greatly about junior systems, talent identification, body shapes and etc...... parra has gone backwards greatly in this area, probably needs an a complete overhaul one would think, will it happen, no it wont, Arthur will be rissoled, underlying problem will continue.
AngryEagle47
Roar Rookie
Des Should never have gone to Dogs, likewise dogs should never have signed him , there are certain clubs that have cultures that only former players understand, the Bulldogs and Manly are two who should always recruit from within. Parramatta have failed miserably by not taking advantage of some of The greatest players to have played in the blue n gold , Pay and Hasler will have very good seasons and will shut plenty up
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Disco Des is back hauling fresh seafood out of the ocean at Collaroy and hopefully he's freshened up his ideas on how to win NRL games. Holding on to the ball and offering nothing in attack didn't go so well.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Des was in the wrong part of town trying to keep his strength up on houmos and tabouli. Dreadful record at the dogs. As for Sticky - I'm not sure that I'd classify him as a 1st grade coach anymore.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
I hope you are right Walter regarding McGregor but I have a feeling he'll get an extension midway through the season.He has too many friends in the right places.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on ! Those lauded as the "best" coaches generally have the best cattle to work with.
WarHorse
Roar Rookie
Brad Arthur and Ricky Stuart should be most under pump
Tom H
Guest
I’m surprised that Brad Arthur has lasted as long as he has. I think he’ll be the first out the door this year despite assurances that he’ll see out the season. The Eels fans expect and deserve better.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The link between winning a title as a coach and that proving anything at all about the future is very weak. How many title winning coaches go on to show that it was proof that they were superior? The ones who get to stay around could possibly win another title but most of them fade away. Tim Sheens and Ricky Stuart are good examples and I doubt if Paul Green is much different. When they have the best or second best team in the comp they are a good chance at making a GF and a good chance of winning it. Apart from the odd freak year for the rest of the time their results on average are in line with their roster to a large extent. Given that the Roosters are unlikely to go back to back and the Storm are surely towards the end of an era the Cows have a good chance to make another GF but does it matter hugely who is the coach?
Rob
Guest
It’s an incredible tough gig. People should understand that some years are diamonds some years are stone. The only coach that has probably started building a rock garden is Ricky Stuart. The only coach i’d like to see under the pump is Bennett. He’s really taken his ego to an obnoxious level. I’m so happy the bloke selling cubic zirconias has been banished, I only wished it had happened 7 years ago.
Rob
Guest
The Cowboys had a horrible season given the expectations of many in 2018. In 2017 the Cowboys exceeded many expectations getting into the final. His coaching uncovered the missing pieces that had eluded the Cowboys for many years and helped than win their first GF. The Cowboys gave him his first crack as head coach in the NRL. His only fault was being to loyal to the players that had rewarded the club a few years earlier IMO. I’m very excited by the new signings and what they can achieve in the next couple of years.
Peter Piper
Guest
It is only 18 months since Paul Green was being talked about on these pages as the best Rugby League coach in the competition. Oh what a fickle lot we fans are.
Coolio
Guest
Paul Green will be under pressure if the Cowboys repeat season 2018. It is not like he doesn't have very good cattle to work with. Having said that, my gut feel is that after working out new combinations, the Cowboys will just miss the top 4, which will give hope to the fans for 2020.
AngryEagle47
Roar Rookie
25 year plan
Paul
Roar Guru
He's probably the safest of the lot Fred. If he gets sacked, that a clear admission Gould screwed up big time by chasing him and there's no way Phil Gould will admit he's wrong about this.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think you've summed up the top 5 coaching pressure points pretty well, Walter. I'd include Kearney because he can't afford to have the Warriors any lower than 9th or 10th, especially if they go on a losing streak as they've done in previous seasons. When they win, they look great but when the lose, they look like they don't want to be there.
Fred
Guest
Ivan Cleary
Ronald M
Guest
With Flanagan now gone and the sharks under financial pressure, I think they will let Morris run the whole season. They may review for 2020. How Ricky Stuart has survived this long must be the biggest question in Rugby League. He has a long history of under performance as a coach not only at the Raiders but also at his previous clubs. Canberra Fans deserve better.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Eels board have admitted that Brad Arthur will see out his contract in 2019 ? If they are having another year like 2018 again in 2019 it could be a matter of him leaving before they take his head off first. They somehow look really underdone for 1st graders and their shining light at the end of last season, the Hayne Plane , is gone. Although they had a great 2017 many of those players seem to have done their dash. Manly had a dismal year as well last year but they still had players making the rep teams and looking like the core of a decent outfit is there. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mcguire has a very difficult year myself and the idea that Paul Green isn’t under pressure as well is laughable. He’ll be gone if his team is battling for the spoon again this year. Poor old Ricky Stuart will have to go if his Green Dream can’t fire up. He has offloaded a couple of lumps and replaced them with some Poms so he’s had enough years to get the team he wants but having an ex Australian half as coach doesn’t mean it helps your club fire in the halves department . Des Hasler had years to get the Dogs halves going but despite also being a rep halfback they ended up being a dismal mess.