Last man standing: The NRL coaching domino effect

IT'S not just the Raiders preparing for change next season with almost half the NRL competition impacted by Canberra's coaching decision.

IT'S not just the Raiders that are preparing to implement change next season with The Sunday Telegraph learning that almost half the NRL competition could be impacted by Canberra's most important decision in their 31-year history.

A domino effect of movement is expected among the clipboard brigade with the Eels, North Queensland, St George Illawarra, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney Roosters all likely to be impacted.

After speaking with NRL agents, club board members and club officials, The Sunday Telegraph today runs through every leading candidate, the coaches most wanted and how the coaching merry-go-round will sweep through the game, starting with the Canberra Raiders.

***

THE RAIDERS

RICKY STUART

A Raiders club legend, Stuart is the frontrunner for the Canberra head coaching position. He has a get-out clause in his current deal at the Eels which allows him to take up an offer from the Raiders, or any other club, at any time.

The Eels board are a rabble which, like it or not, impacts on the football team. Back-to-back wooden spoons is proof of that. At least one Eels board member wanted Stuart gone just seven months into his first season, proving solidarity isn’t a strong point of the current board.

They may have been enemies during their years as rival State of Origin coaches, but Meninga has already declared publicly he would not vote against Stuart returning home. When an offer is made, and it will be, expect Stuart to take it. He’d be crazy not to.

NEIL HENRY
Told two months ago he would not be required beyond this season, Henry has slapped a whole lot of egg on the faces of the Cowboys administration. Prior to Saturday night’s clash with the Wests Tigers, North Queensland were the form team of the NRL, winning their previous five matches. Henry coached the Raiders in 2007-08 and despite his departure for the Cowboys, the former Maroons assistant has an ally in Meninga. “I think Neil will come into consideration,’’ Meninga said.

ANDREW DUNNEMAN
As the Raiders interim coach, Dunemann has plenty of supporters from where it matters most at the Green Machine - the players. A strong communicator, the former under-20s coach has a healthy relationship with the next wave of talent coming through the club, including disgruntled dynamo Anthony Milford. As the current QLD Under-20s coach he also boasts the backing of Meninga.

***

Neil-Henry

THE EELS

NEIL HENRY

A return to Canberra isn’t Henry’s only option as ironically the Eels board look at the option of signing both Henry and current Cowboys football manager Peter Parr as a package deal, should Stuart move on.

Without a chief executive for the past two months, Parramatta have spoken to Parr with chairman Steve Sharp telling The Sunday Telegraph he would prefer to appoint a CEO with a “football- and not necessarily a business-related background.’’

Henry has also been approached to take up the assistant role at the Gold Coast Titans.

JASON TAYLOR
He might be at the Roosters as Trent Robinson’s assistant coach, but Taylor is never far from the minds of the Parramatta hierarchy.

In May last year, former Eels coach Stephen Kearney rejected an idea from the Parramatta board to parachute Taylor in as an assistant. Now with speculation that Stuart could leave Parramatta, Taylor’s name has resurfaced.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told Roosters officials would not stand in Taylor’s way if the Eels came knocking.

MATT PARISH
The current assistant coach to Stuart at the Eels, Parish is a definite contender should his mentor move on. Parish is widely regarded as a future NRL coach who has formed a strong bond with the game’s elite as part of the NSW State of Origin coaching staff.

The former Balmain Tiger has also been appointed coach of Samoa for the upcoming World Cup, which is a major factor considering the number of Polynesian players at the Eels.

***

Steve Price

THE DRAGONS

STEVE PRICE
He might be in charge of the merged club’s most disappointing season, but Steve Price is safe - for now.

However, the likeable 35-year-old must also survive an upcoming internal and external review of the football operations, which has been ordered by the St George Illawarra board.

The review is expected to be finalised next month. With a new-look roster next year, including Melbourne’s Gareth Widdop, Souths Dylan Farrell and Canberra’s Joel Thompson, Price deserves to see out his contract.

TIM SHEENS
Speculation that Sheens would replace Price at St George Illawarra began during the State of Origin series.

Saints officials were also reported to have spoken with the Test coach last month. His inability to take the reigns until after the World Cup in December is detrimental to his return to the NRL.

Sheens has recently appointed experienced player agent Wayne Beavis as his manager.

“By no means has Tim closed the door as an NRL coach, in fact he’d be a contender for any club,’’ Beavis said.

NEIL HENRY
Henry will come under serious consideration if the Eels and Raiders choose to overlook him. As previously stated, Henry has a desire to remain an NRL head coach and unlike Price, he boasts a wealth of experience as a head coach, which chief executive Peter Doust believes is a lure the club will consider in 2015.

***

Paul Green

THE COWBOYS

PAUL GREEN

A genuine contender, Green is set for a second interview with the Cowboys after being placed on the short-list for the head coaching position. Green has history at the club, having played 35 matches with the Cowboys.

Green has ability as a coach with his Roosters under-20s side sitting second in the Holden Cup. Like Taylor, the Roosters would not oppose Green leaving the club to forge a career as an NRL coach.

KEVIN WALTERS
Walters will be at another NRL club next season, it's just a matter of who and in what capacity.

An assistant to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, Walters is also part of the Queensland Origin coaching staff and his bond with Cowboys players including club captain Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Brent Tate is pivotal to his nomination.

“He knows the majority of players up there, so I think he would be a good fit,’’ Storm captain Cameron Smith said.

WAYNE BENNETT
Bennett shook hands to coach the Cowboys on a four-year deal prior to joining St George Illawarra. History shows that Bennett baulked on the move once the deal became public.

Given Bennett’s son-in-law, Ben Ikin, sits on the Cowboys board it would be naive not to think that a similar conversation hasn’t been made with the master tactician.

Bennett is contracted to the Knights until 2015, but the future of that deal exists only as far as Nathan Tinkler’s shrinking pockets.

A more likely move for Bennett is back to the Brisbane Broncos as a coaching director with either Walters or club champion Darren Lockyer, replacing current coach Anthony Griffin, at the helm.