NRL 2024 coaches’ survey part two: Rabbitohs not in grand final thoughts, Dolphins win respect

In part two of our exclusive 2024 NRL coaches’ survey we reveal who they believe will play in this year’s grand final and just who out of their peers is considered to be the game’s best.

The Broncos and the Roosters are the most likely grand finalists that will bring an end to Penrith’s three-year dominance, according to the game’s top coaches.

Day two of News Corp’s annual survey revealed a surprising outcome with the Roosters and Broncos topping answers when the coaches were asked who they would play in the decider.

Thirty of the game’s NRL head and assistant coaches completed the questionnaire with South Sydney totally snubbed from the poll, failing to land a single vote despite being equal in line with their arch rivals the Roosters.

Brisbane and Roosters received eight votes to face off in a grand final for the first time since 2000, with the Panthers next on seven.

The Warriors, Sharks and Knights were the only other clubs to receive a nomination.

The Rabbitohs poor’ finish to last season where they failed to make the top eight remains fresh in the minds of their opponents.

Despite this, they have six players (Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Keaon Koloamatangi) named in the preliminary NSW Origin squad – just as many as the Panthers.

Coaches favour the Roosters and Broncos over Penrith in 2024.

The majority of NRL coaches facour an afternoon grand final.

Other key results included;

- Only 33 per cent believed NRL referees/bunker officials should front the media after games

- 53 per cent rated the quality of officiating four out of five and 43 per cent gave the match officials a three.

- 60 per cent do not believe there should be a pride round

- 67 per cent want a stand-alone Origin/Test period during the season.

NO BELLYACHE FOR KING CLEARY

The Clearys are officially rugby league’s First Family.

Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary was already rated the best player in the game by NRL coaches but he no longer has bragging rights over his father Ivan after the Panthers mentor was voted the premier coach in the game by his peers for the first time.

Leading Penrith to a third consecutive premiership last season was finally enough for Ivan Cleary to topple Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy as the King of the coaches.

Cleary secured 43 per cent of the votes in the third annual survey of NRL head and assistant coaches NRL, surging past Bellamy as the game’s No.1 mentor.

Remarkably, Brisbane boss Kevin Walters was voted the second best coach in the game after leading the Broncos to last year’s grand final with Bellamy dipping to third in the rankings alongside seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett.

Bellamy was overwhelmingly voted the best coach in the game a year ago as Cleary only received eight per cent of the vote in 2023.

Ivan Cleary and Kevin Walters have usurped Craig Bellamy at the top of the ratings.

However, a third premiership in succession for Penrith was enough to convince his fellow coaches that Cleary deserved the top gong as he ended Bellamy’s two-year reign at the top of the rankings.

Cleary has a red-hot chance to further etch his name in folklore this season - the Panthers are favourites to make it four titles in a row despite the loss of NSW centre Steven Crichton, who has moved to the Bulldogs.

“It’s great to see Ivan recognised by his peers as the best NRL coach in the league,” Penrith chief executive Matt Cameron said.

“What Ivan has brought to this club has been exceptional – not only with the club’s on-field success, but also the culture he has set at the Panthers.

“Ivan takes great pride on the Panthers being a source of community pride, and this has been reflected by the way he leads the team.

“Ivan has a great relationship with his players and staff, which ultimately contributes to the on-field success.

Which coach favoured the introduction of tier one players to Origin?

No changes wanted by the majority of coaches.

“For a club to remain successful for a sustained period is an incredible achievement for a head coach, and something Ivan should be extremely proud of.”

Nathan Cleary’s standing as the game’s best player was no surprise.
The Panthers halfback produced a career-defining 20 minutes in last year’s grand final to inspire Penrith to victory, confirming his status as the game’s pre-eminent player.

The coaches clearly agreed as Nathan secured 77 per cent of the votes.

Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic, who showed he was back to full fitness by taking part in a scrimmage against St George Illawarra at 4 Pines Park on Friday, was next in line with 10 per cent of the vote.

Cleary was also voted the current player the coaches would like to coach, winning 43 per cent of the vote. His Penrith teammate James Fisher-Harris and Brisbane star Reece Walsh were also prominent in the voting.

News Corp’s exclusive coaches poll had 30 responses as the game’s brightest minds gave their views on the game’s most significant issues on and off the field.

BIG TINO THE BEST FOUNDATION STONE IN THE GAME

Step aside Reece Walsh. Gold Coast’s $12 million man Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been anointed the most valuable rising superstar in the NRL.

News Corp’s third annual poll of NRL coaches and assistants has produced a stunning endorsement of Fa’asuamaleaui’s talent and leadership strength.

Asked which NRL player, aged 23 or younger, would they choose to build a team around, a whopping 50 per cent of coaches opted for Titans enforcer Fa’asuamaleaui.

The Queensland Origin prop blitzed the field, with Eels playmaker Dylan Brown (20pc), Broncos fullback sensation Reece Walsh (10pc) and Tigers’ NSW Origin prop Stefano Utoikamanu well behind in voting.

Big Tino is the preferred foundation for NRL coaches.

Mindful of Big Tino’s status, the Titans have wasted no time taking Fa’asuamaleaui off the market, signing him last season to a monster 10-year deal to keep him at the Coast until the end of 2033.

NRL newcomers the Dolphins attempted a big-money poaching raid on Fa’asuamaleaui in 2022.

Dolphins super coach Wayne Bennett met with Fa’asuamaleaui in the hope of securing him as a marquee recruit for their debut season last year, but the Maroons and Test bookend stayed loyal to the Titans.

Bennett isn’t surprised by the survey result, saying few forwards in the game possess Fa’asuamaleaui’s work ethic and consistency.

“That’s why I tried to sign Tino a few years ago,” said Bennett, who gave Fa’asuamaleaui his Queensland State of Origin debut for the Covid-affected 2020 series.

“He is a wonderful young leader and he learned some great habits from his time as a young player at the Melbourne Storm.

“He was brilliant for me in that Origin series, he doesn’t take a backward step, he’s a winner, and his teammates have enormous respect for him.”

DOLPHINS RECRUITMENT DRIVE DRAWS SEAL OF APPROVAL

The coaches also rubber-stamped the Dolphins recruitment drive led by ex-Bronco pair Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler.

Flegler shared top spot with Luke Brooks and Jack Wighton with the trio polling 17 per cent. Farnworth and Stephen Crichton (13 per cent) were next best while Dom Young and Justin Olam also received support at seven per cent.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett said enticing Flegler to the club was key.

The NRL coaches approve of the Dolphins recruiting moves.

“I couldn’t believe our lucky stars we got him,” Bennett said.

“He finished the year as one of the top forwards in the game and the beauty is he still has a decade in front of him.

“He has all the qualities you need to be the best in the coming years, he has the toughness to back up his talent. There is huge upside in Tom.

“It’s taken a little bit of time for him to mature, but he is a player that is going to put his stamp on the game in the next few years.

“We’ve given him a great opportunity and I believe he will step up for us. I’m really happy with the quality we’ve got.

“We’re still building as a club, but to have players of the calibre of Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth, we’ve got better depth this season.”