Bulldogs contact David Furner to join Trent Barrett’s coaching staff
The Bulldogs will attempt to nail down its new-look coaching roster with the acquisition of a legendary player and coach, while England coach Wane secures official interview with Cowboys.
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In a week of widespread coaching movement, Canterbury will attempt to nail down its new-look coaching roster after incoming coach Trent Barrett contacted Newcastle assistant David Furner about joining the Bulldogs from next season.
The Daily Telegraph can also reveal:
● North Queensland will this week interview England head coach Shaun Wane, who could become the first Brit to coach at NRL level since Malcolm Reilly 23 years ago;
● Warriors interim coach Todd Payten, Manly assistant John Cartwright and Cowboys interim Josh Hannay have also secured interviews with North Queensland;
● Huddersfield coach Simon Woolford has been linked to the Panthers’ assistant coach role vacated by Barrett;
● Kevin Walters is favourite to replace Anthony Seibold at Brisbane but Paul Green continues to be heavily discussed;
● Furner has also been linked with St George Illawarra but no formal contact has been made.
Bulldogs chief executive Andrew Hill is expected to contact Furner sometime this week to discuss a possible shift to Belmore.
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Hill will also interview other candidates although the process has been delicate given all are with existing clubs. And another layer of complication in negotiations is Barrett, who remains at Penrith, a club heading full steam toward their first title since 2003.
Furner is liked and respected and has enjoyed substantial success in assistant roles at North Queensland, Souths and now Newcastle. He was also Canberra’s former head coach.
Payten remains favourite for the Cowboys position although Cartwright also has strong support. Wane – according to sources close to North Queensland – is a “very impressive” candidate.
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The last Englishman to coach in Australia was Malcolm Reilly, who was in charge at Newcastle between 1995 and 1998, including the club’s famous 1997 ARL grand final win.
English-born Steve McNamara was an assistant coach at the Roosters and Warriors while the legendary Tommy Bishop captain-coached Cronulla between 1970 and 1973.
Bishop also coached North Sydney in 1979 before heading back to the Sharks as coach in 1980.
Penrith hasn’t formally started their search to replace Barrett but Woolford is understood to be considering a return to Australia. The former Canberra skipper and Dragons hooker has enjoyed strong success at Huddersfield with English sources linking him to the Panthers.
Cartwright would be another possibility at Penrith, should he miss the Cowboys job, given his family’s strong and long history with the Panthers.
Dean Young is clear favourite to retain the Dragons’ top job, especially after a first-up win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium last weekend. Insiders basically claim the job is “Young’s to lose.”
The club will however continue to monitor the situation and informally discuss other coaching possibilities.
Seibold will be gone from Red Hill ether this week or after this season with Walters and Green the two frontrunners. Walters is favourite although Green remains a robust contender.
Should Walters accept the Broncos job, Green may take a rest from NRL coaching and takeover the Queensland State of Origin job to be vacated by Walters.