NRL clubs must stop sacking coaches when problems run deeper
When will clubs finally look further than the tired old formula of sacking the coach of an underperforming side to turn things around? Anthony Griffin says the evidence is there.
Opinion
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Newcastle and Canterbury both have just nine wins to show for this season, but that is where the similarities end.
The Knights are in turmoil and the Bulldogs are united and hungry.
Nine weeks ago the Knights were fifth on 18 competition points and the Bulldogs were last, with just eight.
NRL clubs and professional sporting organisations in general are unique beasts. They are full of talent, strong personalities and ego.
All of these are essential ingredients for success if used the right way. But they can also be very destructive.
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In 2006, the board of the Geelong AFL club felt they were underperforming. They hadn’t won a premiership since 1963 and had finished a disappointing 10th that season.
They called for the dreaded “independent review”.
The coach at the time, Mark Thompson, was under enormous pressure and, from the outside, looked the likely scapegoat.
This review was going to be different, though, and proved to be a defining event for the future successes of the club.
The first people to be reviewed and have the blowtorch applied was the board themselves. They led from the front – what do we as a board need to do, improve, change to lead this club better and win premierships?
The following year Geelong won their first title in 44 years and backed it up with another flag two years later in 2009.
Thompson left the club in 2010 and current coach Chris Scott was at the helm when they won again in 2011.
The Cats have only missed the finals once since, in 2015.
The Geelong board collectively dropped their ego and led everyone else in the club to do the same. The result of which was an increase in honesty and empowerment throughout the entire organisation.
The Richmond Tigers followed a similar path at the end of 2016 after finishing 13th. Coach Damien Hardwick was perceived to be a dead man walking.
From the top down the Tigers pulled together and were rewarded with a premiership in 2017. After winning the 2018 minor premiership they are now favourites for this year’s flag, along with ladder leaders Geelong.
Earlier this season, Canterbury extended Dean Pay’s contract after being thrashed in the opening two rounds.
Chair Lynne Anderson said of the decision: “The club always must come first. It is up to the club to manage the challenges that come from wanting to win sooner rather than later, doing it according to our club values and philosophy, and building for the long term.
“We are a united board with a great deal of football experience, and it is during times like this that you draw upon that football experience.”
The Bulldogs, under significant external pressure and no doubt some internal debate, have not flinched. They have not leaked an ounce of doubt and are progressively rebuilding themselves. The majority of their side has been recruited from other clubs, but they all look like Canterbury players.
Their members and fans can rightfully feel proud of the present and optimistic for the future.
Meanwhile, Newcastle have seemingly lost their way. The reports of staff members undermining the coach, player managers dictating to the board and players wanting a bigger say in the direction of the club are alarming.
The performance against the Tigers resembled a Year 9 class with a fill-in teacher – they didn’t care. Heartbreaking for their fans and embarrassing for everyone involved in the organisation.
Adversity presents opportunity, and hopefully for Newcastle and their fans they come out of this a stronger club both on and off the field. It has been a tough 19 years since their last title. They have had some very good coaches since then, including Wayne Bennett.
Geelong and Richmond looked beyond their coach and haven’t looked back since.