NRL 2022: Trent Barrett replacement, Canterbury coach candidates running out

The Bulldogs are set to miss out on their No.1 target, while a club great has distanced himself from the reckoning to be the club’s next head coach.

The Bulldogs’ hunt for a new head coach is about to cop a huge setback, with highly rated Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo ready to start negotiations for a contract extension with the premiers this week.

It comes as Canterbury’s interim coach Mick Potter also distanced himself from entering the race to replace Trent Barrett in the countdown to Friday night’s clash against the Panthers, with Potter adamant: “I haven’t put my hand up for the job”.

Sources are also convinced Shane Flanagan is no chance of getting the gig while Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould remains at the club.

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Canterbury are running out of candidates to fill the shoes of former coach Trent Barrett.

Ciraldo is thought to be Gould’s No.1 choice and there was speculation on Monday that his name continues to come up in discussions, despite those close to Ciraldo saying he is just not interested.

But the talk remains regardless that the Dogs may even be prepared to put together a highly lucrative offer to try and temp Ciraldo to take on a position many consider a coaching death trap.

The one thing Canterbury does have is lots of money, and they could easily put together a package in the vicinity of $800,000-a-year for someone with Ciraldo’s prospects.

But it is understood there has been no official approach from Canterbury at this stage.

And given Ciraldo will start negotiations with the Panthers in the coming days, it is almost certainly too late anyway with Ciraldo intent on staying exactly where he is.

For that reason the 37-year-old, who is regarded as the next best coach in waiting, is expected to sign on for some more years at the Panthers under Ivan Cleary and wait for the right offer to come along.

That may well turn out to be taking over from Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins in years to come.

Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo is considered one of the brightest young coaches in the game. Picture; Getty

Either way, it leaves the Bulldogs seemingly running out of options, although everyone you talk to in the game is convinced Gould would have had a plan in place before the Dogs let Barrett go.

But what that plan is remains a mystery.

Michael Maguire’s name has been mentioned but it would seem ludicrous to think the Bulldogs would even consider replacing the coach of the team running last with the man fighting to stay in charge of the team running 15th.

Paul Green is another name that has been speculated but it is understood the former Cowboys premiership winning coach has had no contact from the Dogs at this point either.

Brad Fittler is the other name that was thrown up but Gould has said previously that the position was for an “experienced coach”.

There are some who believe Potter would be a good fit for Canterbury at this point to try and help rebuild a club where he was a two-time premiership winner, and Potter has had previous head coaching experience at Wests Tigers.

But Potter said: “At the moment I have put my hand up to coach until the end of the year. That is what I have put my hand up for.”

Mick Potter has taken over as interim coach of the Bulldogs – but could he be a long-term option? Picture: Getty

Asked if he would be interested if the opportunity came up down the track, he left the door slightly open: “At this stage I am just going to go until the end of the year.

“I haven’t really given it too much thought, and if we keep losing I think it will definitely be until the end of the year.

“But in all seriousness at this stage I am quite content just doing this.

“I just feel better about having that situation (where he is not actively chasing the job).

“I can be myself. I can be honest with the team.

“There is no pressure on me to force things to happen.

“I want them to be themselves and I want them to play for the club and I want them to understand how important it is to do everything that you possibly can every single week to get a result.

“I am not saying the players aren’t (trying) but again, I want everyone to be accountable for their performances every single week for every single moment they are on the field.

“Me thinking this way I think does help the coaching staff, does help the players.

“I am quite happy right at the moment just to leave it at that.”