Coaches keen on player draft, transfer window to level NRL playing field and kill off poaching raids

The results from a recent survey continue to shed light on how NRL coaches feel the game is going as well as what they believe needs to change, with a transfer window and the possibility of a draft high on the list.

The current system and time frame of recruiting have received a lot of backlash over the years, with many teams and fans unhappy with players being able to sign with a rival club over a year out from their current contract ending.

According to News Corp, 63 per cent of coaches have agreed that a transfer window should be introduced, which may stop the circus surrounding signings such as Viliame Kikau from the Panthers to the Bulldogs.

29 per cent were happy with the current system, while eight per cent choose not to answer.

Another topic that continues to get tossed around is the idea of a player draft. A system that the AFL has used for well over 20 years, many have questioned whether the same type of module would be good in the NRL.

54 per cent of coaches liked the idea of introducing a player draft, while 42 per cent didn’t and were not fans of the concept. Four per cent kept their opinions to themselves.

The State of Origin coaching system also came under the microscope, with the survey asking if stand-alone coaches with no normal club responsibilities were better off in charge. Brad Fittler is the current NSW coach, while Billy Slater is in charge of the Maroons, and both have no ties to normal club duties, but coaches in the past have looked after both at the same time such as Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett.

Billy Slater and Ben Hunt celebrate. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

67 per cent agreed that the best person for the job was someone without the responsibilities of coaching a club side, while 33 per cent felt that it would be fine for a coach to look after an NRL club as well as an Origin side.

While the involvement of women in the game continues to grow, it seems it will be over a decade before a female is in charge of a male team.

With current talents like Karyn Murphy, Kylie Hilder, Tahnee Norris and Ruan Sims in the NRLW coaching ranks, 92 per cent of the current NRL coaches still believe it will be more than ten years before we see a female head coach of an NRL team. Four per cent feel it could happen within the next ten years, while the same amount can see it happening even sooner, believing a female NRL coach will be named within the next five years.

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Former league great Laurie Daley can see a female assistant coach being appointed within the next five years, with the progression into head coaching shortly after.

“I think it’s inevitable that it will happen, a woman being a head coach or an assistant coach,” said Daley.

“That’s the way we’re tracking.

“With the rise of women’s sport, in particular rugby league, more people are getting involved and more people will want opportunities so if they’re good enough to win a position, then why not?

“We’re all open now to possibilities.

“I think in the next five years we might start to see women as assistant coaches and then in ten years we might see our first-ever NRL female head coach. There are opportunities there now that weren’t there years ago.

“If they get an opportunity and are prepared to put in the hard work then I think they would do a good job. I can see no reason why it wouldn’t be accepted.”