If you listen to the noise, the bullets are being loaded into the chamber and the hammer is pulled back.
Brad Arthur is walking the dusty road in the west and all eyes are on him.
The Eels have plummeted out of the top four and the murmurs are growing louder that the coach is in the gun.
But if the trigger is pulled, who replaces him?
Brad Fittler’s name was tossed up over the weekend.
Seriously. Twice. First, on Triple M Radio and then on Fox League’s NRL 360. Prior to that, it was Shane Flanagan.
But the name no one has raised is the one name that everyone should be talking about: Kristian Woolf.
Woolf is head coach at St Helens and recently extended his contract until the end of the 2022 campaign. He won the Super League grand final in his first season in 2020 and won the Challenge Cup in 2021.
Prior to that, he was interim coach of Newcastle following Nathan Brown’s departure and took charge of the Tonga international side in 2014 where he guided them to a world ranking of fourth and a semi-finals appearance in the 2017 World Cup.
He’s building quite the resume. Yet surprisingly, whenever a new position appears or talk of a coaching change rears its head, Woolf is absent from the discussion.
Mind-boggling.
(Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images)
Perhaps he needs to start networking with the Australian media? His credentials certainly make a striking case for why he should be mentioned in any conversation.
For what it’s worth, if Arthur is about to go head-to-head with the Sundance Kid, he’s certainly not showing it.
The Roar understands he has been meeting with potential recruits and very much part of contract negotiations.
Not a practice you’d expect a dead man walking to be engaging in.
Arthur has been in the job for eight years and under contract until the end of next season. You have to think 2022 could be a make or break year for the boss of the blue and gold.
Shift your attention to the inner west and Michael Maguire too has had his future speculated about.
Again, Flanagan’s name has been thrown up by some scribes.
To flick Maguire would be the ultimate mistake.
When Maguire slid into the hot seat, he inherited a roster many would turn their nose up at and a host of legacy issues.
He’s working hard to overcome all those handicaps. He’s developed and slowly brought some talented youth through the system and propped them up with some smart buys in the likes of Daine Laurie.
With Tim Sheens now taking over recruitment and a brilliant football mind for the boss to lean on, Maguire shouldn’t be subject to speculation around his future.
On the rookie front, the likes of Todd Payten and Kevin Walters will be feeling the pinch next year if results don’t turn around – and the same can be said for Canterbury boss Trent Barrett.
So, hypothetically, if an NRL club is looking to make a change in their coaching ranks, who’s available?
Of the rookie coaches ready to take the next step, there’s two names on the list: Cameron Ciraldo and Jason Ryles.
Of the experienced vintage, you have Wayne Bennett, Paul Green, David Furner, John Cartwright, Geoff Toovey and Fittler.
But Woolf sits in that sweet spot.
He’s young, has experience leading a club and managing a list in the UK but is a fresh face in the NRL space.
He comes off contract the same time as Trent Robinson, Anthony Griffin, Walters and Arthur.
I wonder how long it will take for an underperforming club to start enquiring about his services?
kk
Roar Pro
Photographs like a good looking Gallen. The train from Mt Isa has yet to reach its destination. The connection to English and Tongan talent can only be bonus.
matth
Roar Guru
Well hidden
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Woolf a much better option than Arthur or Fittler
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
The transition from NSW / QRL tier 2 level is huge and every guy has just about struggled. Take Bellamy , Bennett and Robinson out of the frame and the rest are there just to make up the numbers. Sure a couple like Green and McGuire have fluked a couple . Boards are easy influenced by ex players . TBH Fittler would struggle as he did 1 st time around. Some guys just have to learn the hard way .
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
We have seen boards struggle to identify what good coaching looks like. They often go for the old club legend, thinking club DNA is the solution. Media also struggle to identify what it looks like also. To me the Eels roster is a 5th-8th team if you compare rosters of every team, fully fit. Maybe a top 4 result has been an overachiever result for Eels in the past few years. According to the media, Barrett was the attacking guru that led Penrith last year. The Bulldogs attack has gone backwards with a better roster than what Dean Pay had. NRL coaching seems more often than not to go into the recycle bin. Those guys are generally there because it hasn’t worked for them at a previous club/s. It’s good to see guys get a shot in recent years that didn’t have decorated NRL playing careers. Some of the best players to have played the game have less than successful NRL coaching careers. Successful playing careers is not a prerequisite for good coaching, Meninga and Lewis spring to mind here. Woolf has some runs on the board in terms of winning results at club and international level. Those should speak for themselves, if the boards can see past the journalists pushing their mate or agenda. They might just stumble on what good coaching looks like.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
because the clowns have no idea about the people out there. Rothfield throws up his mate Flanagan. Another guy throws up one SOO coach, another guy throws out the other. Now they are out of ideas. Then one of them will make a list of all the candidates for a club, and the 3 above will get mentioned, followed by the recent sackings - McGregor, Siebold, Morris. Add to that list a couple of assistants with name recognition - Dean Young, David Furner, David Kidwell So when the next coach gets the flick and the article comes out with the contenders, there's your list. Repeat every year. oh, and by law Wayne Bennett has to be linked to every job
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
For me it's another Lamb to the slaughter. I put Fittler on the same level as Kevvie .
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
No sorry Mr Ryan not you. The fox and channel nine shows, I do only see snippets of those that get put on YouTube, but have seen it mention or firmer asked. I just don’t see Fitlers resume as that good. Lol
Nathan Ryan
Expert
Do you mean in my article or by News Corp and Triple M?
Nathan Ryan
Expert
Well said
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
I don’t get why Fitler’s name gets mentioned. Only for clicks. Is he a hidden gem?
Nat
Roar Guru
Is Ciraldo the guy who wants an NRL head coach gig? I don't really get that sense from him even in his interim days a few years ago. By rights he should be sitting in Barrett's seat today if he wanted it - but did he? Of the 4 you listed coming off contract I would say it's Arthur in the hot seat as both Griffin and Walters will be better (just about have to be) and Robbo's not going anywhere. Payten is one who may find himself treading a fine line if their '22 season isn't significantly better and Woolfe would be ideal to get the best/most from JT13. Agree about Madge. If the Qld/NSW Cups can get some traction soon, I think Madge has enough mature and young talent to have them playing finals either next yr or the one after because their NRL depth now goes past their best 17.