Paul Green has gone, Wayne Bennett has said he’s unavailable, Mal Meninga is coaching the national side. Kevin Walters is busy.
There’s not a lot of love for Neil Henry, Ben and Shane Walker are 5000-1 outsiders (ditto Anthony Seibold, and Anthony Griffin). Cameron Smith has said no, who’s left?
Everyone seem to be talking about Billy Slater heading a ‘dream team’ of Slater, Smith and Johnathan Thurston.
It could be great. None have any coaching experience, so we won’t know until we try, but their footy intellect and experience can’t be questioned.
I’m just wondering about one other name that just doesn’t get mentioned for some reason.
I think there are three parts to being a coach. Some coaches have all three traits, some clearly favour one
over the other two:
1. Super intense old-school slave drivers (Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy)
2. Father figures who players will bleed for, because they the love him (Arthur Beetson, Wayne Bennett, Jack Gibson, Phil Gould, Mal Meninga)
3. Strategists and professionals. Often times these blokes weren’t superstar players, but milked their own playing ability as much as they could, then bring that professional approach to the team they are coaching. Think Wayne Bennett, Phil Gould, Trent Robinson, Craig Bellamy.
What does Queensland need right now? I don’t think we need a slave driver. We only have a week of preparation, and if the “Queensland play with passion” thing is true (it is), we’ve no need for a coach to be cracking the whip.
We need someone they’ll love, someone who understands the game inside and out, and will leave no stone unturned to get everything right (selection, training, strategy, execution). I’ve no doubt the ‘dream team’ are great candidates for the role, but there’s another name no-one is mentioning, and I can’t work out why.
Cooper Cronk started his career at Melbourne as a bench utility. It took him quite a while to establish himself as the Melbourne halfback. If you think of player with a magical step, a subtle pass, a pinpoint kicking game, a tackle that will fold a player in half, 20-metre cut-out passes that fly like an arrow, blinding speed and acceleration; Cooper won’t be the first player who comes to mind, for any of them.
Cooper had a really good skill set, but not a great one, and still:
•Won 5 Dally M half back of the year awards
•Won the 2012 Clive Churchill medal.
•Won 2 Dally M player of the year awards
•Won the 2016 golden boot
•Won 4 premierships with the Storm (two were, of course, stripped)
•Won two premierships with the Roosters, where he was brought in by Robinson as the ‘missing piece in the puzzle’.
In his second Roosters premiership, his presence was considered so valuable, he started the match with a busted arm, only made a tackle when he absolutely had to, and hardly touched the ball. The team carried him in the biggest game of the year, purely for his game management. On that day, he was Mike Brierley.
Cooper has been coached by Bellamy, Robinson, Bennett, and Meninga. I can’t think of a more professional footballer, nor a better game manager or strategist. Looking at the three types of coaches listed above, Cooper beats Slater on strategy and professionalism, but might lose a bit in terms of being a loveable father figure.
My question is, given all this, why isn’t him name in the coaching conversation? I know he works at Fox, however the ‘dream team’ all work at Nine. Maybe the answer is Cooper doesn’t want the gig? I’ve never heard him asked.
I’m just making the point that Cooper is an excellent candidate for the job, and should really be considered.
Either way, whatever they do, go Queensland.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"Should Cooper Cronk be the next Maroons coach?" Call me old fashioned, but shouldn't we give Billy Slater the chance to fail first before discussing his successor before he has even coached a single Origin game?
ChubbyMcLardFat
Roar Rookie
Did you like my "(it is)" bit?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Not gonna happen He has accepted the position on the QRL board vacated by Ben Ikin,
Paul Monaro
Roar Rookie
The last line spoiled it but otherwise well written. And from the heart too. I reckon Cronk could coach QL, work for Fox Sports and study for a PhD all at the same time.
Nat
Roar Guru
It would be a travesty if Ipswich won the bid and they got overlooked. Their style brought Ipswich back to relevance. The fact the Sydney fans know of their style is testamony enough IMO. Under the current rules, with the right team, it would be amazing.
Dutski
Roar Guru
I’d love to see the Walker Bros get a crack - if not Origin then NRL with someone. Coaches that say “go out there and play footy”. Good stuff.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
A good read Chubby. I think Anthony Griffin would be excellent. When can he start? Joking kinda- Cooper Cronk would benefit from a bit of an apprenticeship maybe, if he decided to try his hand at coaching. However, he has been coached by the best and must certainly know what makes a winning team one would think. You could chuck him in at the deep end and see what happens? It’s not a terrible idea at all. Don’t do it QLD!
ChubbyMcLardFat
Roar Rookie
" He’s only 37, has only been retired for a few years and is relaxing into retirement with a cushy media gig. Does he really want to take on this role when he’s got plenty on his plate already? " Billy Slater is in exactly the same boat (oops, Billy is 38).
Nat
Roar Guru
He might be good to have around the team but I would lean toward him being a very intense coach. Going purely off what we hear in the commentary box, I think Slater would be better at conveying a message that cuts through. As you say, it's not about teaching these players as much as getting the best from them. Much like his playing days, his vision is incredible. He sees how teams are lining up structure as well as where the opposition players are and can convey his thoughts very eloquently. Add Smith as a tacticion and JT as the passion (much like Hetherington was) and it's a pretty formidable group.
Paul
Roar Guru
I wonder if he wants to coach at this point in his life? He's only 37, has only been retired for a few years and is relaxing into retirement with a cushy media gig. Does he really want to take on this role when he's got plenty on his plate already? I think he's pass on the chance to be head coach for now, but will obviously still have input. In a few years though, he might be a candidate. Nice first piece Chubby. Hope to see more articles in the future.
Rob
Guest
Cooper’s strategic understanding of Rugby League is on another level. Not sure many could play the percentages and executed a game plan aa well as Cronk.
Tony
Roar Guru
Nice first article Chubby, welcome to the jungle. Cronk would no doubt do as good a job as those being mentioned, and maybe better than some. Fittler has proved that you don't need to know much about coaching to be a successful origin coach
3 R M
Guest
Cooper is an independent Director for the QRL board. So he's doing what he did in that gf with the board , advising them which way to go with pathways and competitions. Would have been possibly involved in this week's news about the coach in a consultative way .So fortunately he'll be around camp anyway good news I think ChubbyMc.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yep I'd be interested to see him get a shot. Would maybe need to tone down the media commitments, tho?