NRL 2020: Three contracted coaches apply for North Queensland Cowboys job
The race to replace Paul Green at the Cowboys has exploded with three contracted head coaches applying for the North Queensland job - a revelation that could have major long-term implications.
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The race to replace Paul Green at the Cowboys has exploded with three current head coaches applying for the North Queensland job.
From an original list of 20 applicants, eight coaches are being closely analysed by the North Queensland Cowboys board with a selection panel set to appoint the club’s replacement to Green within the next six weeks.
But in what could develop into a major story, News Corp has learned that no less than three head coaches - currently employed by rival NRL clubs - have forwarded on their resumes to coach the Cowboys in 2021.
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Sources have confirmed the Cowboys were shocked to receive interest from the on-contract NRL coaching trio.
The development has the potential to cause long-term implications – not for the Cowboys, but for the clubs at which the coaches are contracted.
Wests Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis was quick to smother whispers within the game over the past 48-hours that had Tigers coach Michael Maguire connected to the Cowboys.
Hagipantelis told News Corp on Tuesday that the club had been assured Maguire had no plans to walk out on the final year of his deal to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.
“Discussions have been held with Michael who has assured us he has no interest in entertaining discussion with any other club while he is contracted to the Wests Tigers, which is a very refreshing and commendable attitude,” Hagipantelis said.
Following Green’s exit last month, Wayne Bennett had also been linked to the Cowboys – after going close to joining the club in 2008.
The super coach has since ruled out applying for the Cowboys job.
News Corp understands while there are as many as eight lead candidates, five individuals are of most interest to the Cowboys.
They include interim Warriors coach Todd Payten, former Newcastle coach Nathan Brown, former Penrith and Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin, Storm assistant Jason Ryles and Cowboys interim coach Josh Hannay.
Payten remains the short-priced favourite to secure the Cowboys post after rejecting a formal offer to coach the Warriors full time, however both Brown and Griffin, with their NRL experience and a focus on the development of players, carry plenty of appeal.
Cowboys head of football Peter Parr insists there are no guarantees Payten will be appointed North Queensland coach following his shock decision to reject the Warriors job.
“In the conversations I’ve had with Todd, I’ve made it very clear there are no guarantees for anyone,” Parr said.
“I spoke to Todd yesterday and he informed me he was offered the Warriors job and he was knocking it back. It was based around family reasons.
“I told him we had a lot of time for him and we like what he did as an assistant coach here at the Cowboys, we felt he was doing an admirable job with the Warriors under difficult circumstances.
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“I said that would allow him to be part of our process (to find the Cowboys’ next coach), but he understood there were no guarantees about the job here, nor was he looking for any guarantees from us.
“Todd knows I am in no position to guarantee him the Cowboys job. The only thing I can guarantee him is that he will be a part of our process going forward.
“I can understand why some people would form the conclusion that because Todd has knocked back the Warriors job, it means he has the Cowboys job.
“That is not the case.
“Todd was up front with me about his position with the Warriors and I was upfront with him about our position at the Cowboys.
“And our position is that we are happy to part of our process, but there is no way in the world we are making private guarantees to anyone.”