Pressure and pain are an NRL coach's lot

A QUARTER of them were sacked last year and only two remain at the same club they were with in 2008 - who would want to be an NRL coach?

A QUARTER of them were sacked last year and only two remain at the same club they were with in 2008. It raises the question: who would want to be an NRL coach?

It's such a tough job that Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has admitted he didn't enjoy his first full year.

Flanagan has given a rare insight into the suffocating nature of coaching.

While it is only pre-season, the game's 16 coaches are already under pressure.

Bookmakers have St George Illawarra's Steve Price as the $2.20 favourite to be the first coach sacked next year.

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While last season, Tim Sheens, Brian McClennan, Brian Smith and Steve Kearney were all sacked.

Craig Bellamy and John Cartwright are the two still at the same club since 2008.

"Winning is everything," said Flanagan, who took over from Ricky Stuart at Cronulla for the final six games of 2010.

"In my first year (2011), I didn't handle things well. I didn't enjoy it. There wasn't success and you start to question your ability.

"It's a tough job. The competition has evened out due to the salary cap, probably to the detriment of the coach.

"When you win a comp or are successful, you know your team is going to be picked apart. Suddenly a successful coach is not so successful.

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"You blokes in the media have a job to do and you can't criticise 26 or 27 players. There's only one coach.

"Wayne Bennett got bashed this year and he's probably the best coach going around."Flanagan has established himself after a stellar 2012 in which he lost his first two games. But that's all it took for the pressure to mount.

"My word I felt pressure after two losses," he said.

"Suddenly the next three games became massive.

"After two losses you know you have to knuckle down and believe in your off-season and your players. I was lucky our senior players didn't panic.

"I was talking to Ron Massey and Craig Bellamy. They told me you can't try to be someone else.

"You've got to be yourself and coach in your own way. It's hard not taking your job home with you at night but you do. To my kids, coaching is my job. To me, it means everything."

NRL coaches sacked market

There is little doubt that Des Hasler and Bellamy are now the game's premier coaches. But even they feel the heat."A coach is under pressure all year round," said former NSW coach Graham Murray, who enjoyed great success at numerous clubs but was also axed from North Queensland and the Sydney Roosters.

"You win three in a row, you are travelling fine. But if you take your eye off the ball, you can drop a game and that can quickly become three.

"That is when the real pressure starts. Every coach would have a Christmas wish list - no injuries to key players and a bit of luck early to get some momentum."

Price said recently his team needs success next season.

"I am under no illusions that we need to improve next year," Price said.

"Last season wasn't up to the standards we set ourselves. We are looking for a lot more accountability for ourselves and our footy club next year.

"The second year you are always a lot more confident to be able to handle pressure situations differently."

Even the best have been cut. The Sydney Roosters' favourite son Brad Fittler was dumped as coach by the Bondi club in 2009.

"There are so many things that you have to deal with," Fittler said.

"I don't think it was like that in the old days.

"You now deal with your team, membership, sponsorship, the draw, recruitment - it's full-on. You have to be willing to be consumed."

Former English Premier League star Mark Bosnich watched on as several managers were sacked during his 12-year stint in England.

"When the team goes well, the players get the credit," Bosnich said. "When the team loses, the coach gets sacked."