NRL 2022: Nathan Brown sacked as New Zealand Warriors coach, Stacey Jones set to take over

Michael Maguire’s time in the coaching wilderness may be brief, as the Warriors go head hunting for a ‘hard arse’ to fix the club’s woes.

The Warriors are set to sack their coach Nathan Brown. Picture: NRL Photos

A “hard arse” with a simple game plan focused on defence is the style of coach the Warriors view as their ideal replacement to Nathan Brown.

The coaching description made by Warriors CEO Cameron George has opened the door for sacked Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire and premiership-winning coach Shane Flanagan to join the mix of possible solutions.

Both coaches are renowned for their hard-nosed attitude towards defence and willingness to make a tough call.

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Michael Maguire has ties with New Zealand due to his job as coach of the Kiwis. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

St Helens and Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, with his relationships with several of the Warriors players, has also been suggested as a leading candidate to take over from Brown.

George said he had fielded a number of calls from prospective coaches following the club’s decision to sever ties with Brown on Tuesday.

In a worrying trend, their next coaching appointment will be the Warriors seventh head coach or interim in 10-years.

Stacey Jones (C) is the Warriors’ interim coach. Picture: Getty

Club legend Stacey Jones will take over the running of the team for the remainder of the 2022 season.

“We’re not scared of a rookie, there’s plenty of assistant coaches around the game that are learning a very good system and who have very good connections with up and coming players,’’ George said.

“Honestly though, I want to see someone with a hard edge to them. I want a bit of a hard arse.

“We need to instil that fabric that steels up our defence.

“We need to steel up our attitude and that’s right across the board.

“Someone that can bring that hard edge would be really good and I’d just like to see a simple approach to footy.

Warriors CEO Cameron George confirmed Brown’s departure on Tuesday. Picture: Getty

“If someone comes that isn’t over analysing, presents well and has a very simple philosophy, but has the effort-based areas really strong, I think they’re really key attributes that could help our club.

“The amount of phone calls I’ve had today from agents and individuals themselves, there’s plenty of people looking for an opportunity and the reality is, we just want to take a deep breath,’’

“We just need to get through this week and then we’ll get to have a think about a plan moving forward.’’

Maguire, given his role with the Kiwi national team, would have a strong understanding of many of the Warriors players.

The Warriors decided to sever ties with Brown prior to a scheduled meeting this morning with CEO Cameron George and owner Mark Robinson.

Season 2022 has been a tough one for Nathan Brown and the Warriors. Picture: Getty

In a statement released by the Warriors on Tuesday morning, CEO Cameron George confirmed Brown’s departure and the elevation of Jones into the interim role for the rest of the 2022 NRL season.
The decision leaves Jones in charge for the last 11 rounds of the campaign starting with Sunday’s game against Cronulla at Redcliffe.
“Nathan told us he had made a personal decision that for family reasons he wouldn’t be able to relocate to New Zealand as originally planned for the long term,” said George.
“We fully appreciate his position and the call he has made.
“Given those circumstances we agreed we needed to make an immediate change.
“It’s tough for everyone involved but, in the best interests of the club, we felt we had to go in a different direction now.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Nathan Brown sacked as New Zealand Warriors coach, Stacey Jones set to take over