http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/coaching-on-thin-ice/2007/04/05/1175366410230.html
The Good Friday meeting of the Roosters and Broncos at Aussie Stadium tonight is rich in symbolism, considering the rival coaches Chris Anderson and Wayne Bennett have been worshipped as saviours during their long careers but now risk what some would say is crucifixion.
Both are winless after three rounds, a gut-wrenching feeling, even for career men who have been Kangaroos coaches and won eight premierships between them. Their precarious position has much to do with "the deal which destroyed two clubs" - a secret agreement between Roosters' chairman Nick Politis and Bennett last year for Bennett to coach the Roosters this season and beyond.
The Roosters' then coach Ricky Stuart was sacked in anticipation of Bennett's arrival but the story leaked. Bennett stayed in Brisbane and, with Stuart gone, Politis hired the only experienced coach available, Anderson. It would be very bold to predict Bennett will end up at the Roosters but this is the season of miracles, isn't it?
If Bennett goes to Bondi Junction, it would only be because his position at the Broncos became untenable, meaning Anderson would be the sacrificial lamb. Should it happen, it would shroud this tortured drama in irony. On the September Monday following the revelation Bennett had entered into a clandestine contract to coach the Roosters, he met with Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen, saying he was staying in Brisbane. The following day, he told Cullen he was going.
When Cullen asked why he would join the Roosters, evoking the long-term description of the club as "a transit lounge", Bennett said words to the effect: "I can cop being sacked by the Roosters but I can't live with being sacked by the Broncos."
Told he had a contract until the end of 2009, Bennett said that while Cullen might honour this, the board and News Ltd might still sack him if his team again bombed in the semi-finals. Cullen contacted the board, which remained solid, then called Lachlan Murdoch, News Corporation heir and a passionate supporter of the club.
Murdoch told Cullen to pass on the message: "If Wayne goes, the only loser out of this would be Wayne." Later that day, Bennett informed Cullen he would stay at the Broncos. Now, it seems, everyone at both clubs is a loser.
Being canonised one day and cannonaded the next is not new to either coach but the pressure has never been as intense as at present, more so for Bennett. Anderson, perceived as a "player's coach", was hired as an antidote to what the Roosters board maintains was an oppressive, intense regime under Stuart.
Stuart, whose club mantra seems to be the pursuit of excellence, spent part of most days in mobile phone conversation with Politis, informing him of his every decision. Anderson has been largely left on his own to jolly up the players but wins are still expected, particularly from a non-interfering board.
Tonight's game, originally scheduled to be Nine's primetime show, has been relegated to the second slot, to follow the Rabbitohs v Bulldogs. This would chagrin Politis, who has long had a rivalry with the Rabbitohs as he seeks a monopoly of the inner-Sydney market. Now, multi-millionaire Politis has two men of similar money to contend with - Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court. They won the opening round, and both have enormous potential to be boastful.
While Anderson's close communication with his players is a cocoon from board pressures, his behaviour at last week's post-game press conference was bizarre. Anderson exploded after his team's loss to Manly, using words such as "diabolical", and making it clear he thought the the players didn't try. He also volunteered he would have a good look at himself, not a wise announcement for a man who has been away from the NRL for three seasons, coaching a club team in Wales, yet expected to lead a lost tribe. His NRL rivals say he is as outdated as the slide rule, ridiculing his resurrection of the antiquated and obsolete one-marker strategy, saying that while he was in Wales, they were finetuning their "split and attack on play two and three" ruck defence.
Bennett's behaviour following his extra-time loss to the Panthers was equally strange, even drawing comments from his players who were heard leaving Suncorp Stadium saying, "What about Benny?" He raced from the sideline, bypassing the dressing sheds, straight to the media room, seeking to technically fulfil his commitment to a "press conference", even though only three reporters had the speed to keep up with the former international fullback. After passing on most questions, he left the room after two minutes and 40 seconds and did not talk to his team.
Cullen, who has been forced to defend Bennett's non-attendance at official functions, including last month's NRL launch, was questioned about it at Wednesday's club chief executives conference. He pointed out NRL rules state a coach must face the media within 15 minutes of a game, and Bennett did this, obeying the letter of the law, if not the spirit.
But "the skinny coach", as his friends call him, attended Wednesday night's Captain's Table dinner at Telstra Stadium, an annual corporate function to raise money for breast cancer. Bennett chatted amiably with guests. The Roosters were the only club not represented, with Anderson and captain Craig Fitzgibbon sending a message to a disappointed NRL chief David Gallop of their non-attendance.
One team will win tonight's game, giving them their first points for the season. Easter analogies are bountiful - a resurrection for the winner? Easter egg on the face for the loser? If Bennett keeps losing, the last supper may not be far way.
The Good Friday meeting of the Roosters and Broncos at Aussie Stadium tonight is rich in symbolism, considering the rival coaches Chris Anderson and Wayne Bennett have been worshipped as saviours during their long careers but now risk what some would say is crucifixion.
Both are winless after three rounds, a gut-wrenching feeling, even for career men who have been Kangaroos coaches and won eight premierships between them. Their precarious position has much to do with "the deal which destroyed two clubs" - a secret agreement between Roosters' chairman Nick Politis and Bennett last year for Bennett to coach the Roosters this season and beyond.
The Roosters' then coach Ricky Stuart was sacked in anticipation of Bennett's arrival but the story leaked. Bennett stayed in Brisbane and, with Stuart gone, Politis hired the only experienced coach available, Anderson. It would be very bold to predict Bennett will end up at the Roosters but this is the season of miracles, isn't it?
If Bennett goes to Bondi Junction, it would only be because his position at the Broncos became untenable, meaning Anderson would be the sacrificial lamb. Should it happen, it would shroud this tortured drama in irony. On the September Monday following the revelation Bennett had entered into a clandestine contract to coach the Roosters, he met with Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen, saying he was staying in Brisbane. The following day, he told Cullen he was going.
When Cullen asked why he would join the Roosters, evoking the long-term description of the club as "a transit lounge", Bennett said words to the effect: "I can cop being sacked by the Roosters but I can't live with being sacked by the Broncos."
Told he had a contract until the end of 2009, Bennett said that while Cullen might honour this, the board and News Ltd might still sack him if his team again bombed in the semi-finals. Cullen contacted the board, which remained solid, then called Lachlan Murdoch, News Corporation heir and a passionate supporter of the club.
Murdoch told Cullen to pass on the message: "If Wayne goes, the only loser out of this would be Wayne." Later that day, Bennett informed Cullen he would stay at the Broncos. Now, it seems, everyone at both clubs is a loser.
Being canonised one day and cannonaded the next is not new to either coach but the pressure has never been as intense as at present, more so for Bennett. Anderson, perceived as a "player's coach", was hired as an antidote to what the Roosters board maintains was an oppressive, intense regime under Stuart.
Stuart, whose club mantra seems to be the pursuit of excellence, spent part of most days in mobile phone conversation with Politis, informing him of his every decision. Anderson has been largely left on his own to jolly up the players but wins are still expected, particularly from a non-interfering board.
Tonight's game, originally scheduled to be Nine's primetime show, has been relegated to the second slot, to follow the Rabbitohs v Bulldogs. This would chagrin Politis, who has long had a rivalry with the Rabbitohs as he seeks a monopoly of the inner-Sydney market. Now, multi-millionaire Politis has two men of similar money to contend with - Academy Award winner Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court. They won the opening round, and both have enormous potential to be boastful.
While Anderson's close communication with his players is a cocoon from board pressures, his behaviour at last week's post-game press conference was bizarre. Anderson exploded after his team's loss to Manly, using words such as "diabolical", and making it clear he thought the the players didn't try. He also volunteered he would have a good look at himself, not a wise announcement for a man who has been away from the NRL for three seasons, coaching a club team in Wales, yet expected to lead a lost tribe. His NRL rivals say he is as outdated as the slide rule, ridiculing his resurrection of the antiquated and obsolete one-marker strategy, saying that while he was in Wales, they were finetuning their "split and attack on play two and three" ruck defence.
Bennett's behaviour following his extra-time loss to the Panthers was equally strange, even drawing comments from his players who were heard leaving Suncorp Stadium saying, "What about Benny?" He raced from the sideline, bypassing the dressing sheds, straight to the media room, seeking to technically fulfil his commitment to a "press conference", even though only three reporters had the speed to keep up with the former international fullback. After passing on most questions, he left the room after two minutes and 40 seconds and did not talk to his team.
Cullen, who has been forced to defend Bennett's non-attendance at official functions, including last month's NRL launch, was questioned about it at Wednesday's club chief executives conference. He pointed out NRL rules state a coach must face the media within 15 minutes of a game, and Bennett did this, obeying the letter of the law, if not the spirit.
But "the skinny coach", as his friends call him, attended Wednesday night's Captain's Table dinner at Telstra Stadium, an annual corporate function to raise money for breast cancer. Bennett chatted amiably with guests. The Roosters were the only club not represented, with Anderson and captain Craig Fitzgibbon sending a message to a disappointed NRL chief David Gallop of their non-attendance.
One team will win tonight's game, giving them their first points for the season. Easter analogies are bountiful - a resurrection for the winner? Easter egg on the face for the loser? If Bennett keeps losing, the last supper may not be far way.
and west coast.
