NRL 2021: Player power needed to save coaches John Morris and Brad Arthur
John Morris and Brad Arthur came into the season under pressure for different reasons, but with the same potential saviours.
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Cronulla players know coach John Morris is in a fight to save his career at the shire club and only one thing will save him: winning football games.
Despite leading Cronulla to back-to-back top eight finishes Morris went into season 2021 as one of the most-under pressure coaches in the competition with constant speculation surrounding his future at the club.
While salary cap challenges and injuries to key players like Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson have hindered Cronulla, Morris has still managed to take the Sharks to two consecutive finals series.
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But that hasn’t been enough to stop headlines that the 300-gamer could be out of a job even before the season ends.
Former Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan, who led the side to a historic premiership in 2016, has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Morris if the Sharks faltered in the first two months of the season.
Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, the man responsible for turning the Panthers defence into a brick wall in the opening rounds of the season has also been linked to the Sharks top job.
Sharks five-eighth Matt Moylan conceded the only way to relieve Morris of the pressure and keep the coach out of the headlines was for his side to win.
“I wouldn’t say that the criticism is fair, the way he has got us ready to play in the last few seasons, I think he has done a really good job,” Moylan said.
“At the end of the day it is up to us as a team to be able to perform on the paddock as well. If we are doing well, that eases the pressure on him there.”
But Morris isn’t alone in dealing with the unwavering level of expectation that comes with being an NRL coach.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur, Morris’ opponent in Saturday night’s clash at Bankwest Stadium, also entered season 2021 with an expectation to deliver in the finals series.
Arthur has done a tremendous job in transforming the Eels into title contenders, turning a wooden spoon finish in season 2018 into consecutive finals campaigns over the next two seasons.
Despite Parramatta’s recent success, Arthur has only managed one win from four finals matches over the last two years.
But rising hooker Reed Mahoney has backed Arthur’s credentials and believes the criticism of Arthur’s finals track record is unfair on the coach.
“I don’t understand why he is under pressure or that people say he is under pressure,” Mahoney said.
“He got us to the top four last year and the finals into the year before when we finished 5th. We have continued to get better. I think it’s one of those things that is easy for the media to get around. But I don’t think he needs to feel like he is under pressure and I don’t think he should be under pressure.”
One person welcoming the pressure in season 2021 is Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses.
Moses, who delivered a calm and controlled performance in the number seven jumper last week against Melbourne, believes a halfback must be willing to absorb the expectation that comes with being an NRL playmaker.
“I’ve had pressure my whole career, as a halfback you get the raps when you win but you get crushed when you lose as well,” Moses said.
“That’s part of the job and the position and if you’re not ready to cop all that then you’re not fit enough to play NRL as a halfback.
“I’ll take as much pressure off my teammates as possible, wherever I can. That’s my job.”
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Originally published as NRL 2021: Player power needed to save coaches John Morris and Brad Arthur
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