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Calling the shots at the Sharks
By ADAM HAWSE
November 9, 2003
THIS is the first picture of the beleaguered Cronulla Sharks and the man most expect to be their new coach for the 2004 season.
While Stuart Raper, seen here controlling a Sharks training run at Wanda beach on Friday, is still officially an assistant to Chris Anderson, that situation is expected to change this month.
Anderson will attend a meeting with the Cronulla board when he returns from the Kangaroo tour on November 26, where it is anticipated his contract will be terminated.
Raper, who joined the Sharks after coaching stints with Castleford and Wigan in the UK, has settled in despite the constant speculation he is set to take over the head coaching job.
"Stuart's fine, he's going great," said Sharks chairman Barry Pierce.
"He had a meeting prior to Chris going overseas and they outlined pre-season training.
"He's settled in well and I spoke to him yesterday and he said he was very impressed with the fitness levels of the guys."
Anderson remains determined to see out the final year of his contract, but should he be sacked by the club, one of Raper's first tasks will be to convince Test centre Phil Bailey to stay with the Sharks.
Bailey has a get-out clause in his contract if Anderson is not coach, a fact bandied about after the latest public stoush between coach and club officials over the sacking of Anderson's son, Jarrad, from the player roster.
"For as long as the Anderson thing has been an issue, it's very clear that since Cronulla have taken an open approach to this, that Phil has an out-clause in his contract," said Bailey's manager George Mimis.
"As a result of that a number of clubs have expressed a show of interest if Chris is not coaching and Phil exercises his out-clause. Phil's position is he'll reserve his judgement.
"He enjoys playing under 'Opes' and he was a big factor in him leaving Manly to join Cronulla."
Pierce, however, said any attempts by an NRL club to poach Bailey would be in breach of the premiership's anti-tampering laws.
"I know nothing of any approaches, but if we found out then naturally we'd take it through the correct channels to the NRL," he said.
"Phil's over there in the UK playing in a Test so I don't think he'd be interested in talking about back home at present anyway.
"The bottom line is he's under contract to us and that's how it is."
Cronulla players have been told by the club not to speak publicly about the coaching imbroglio.
Prop Danny Nutley said the team is focused on consigning a poor 2003 season to history.
"It's got nothing to do with us, so we're just staying out of it," Nutley said.
"Last year was disappointing but we've got to put that behind us."
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs are set to again feature in a first-round double-header at Telstra Stadium on a Saturday night.
Both teams will host games against yet-to-be finalised opposition.
Penrith and Sydney Roosters will be given a home game, ruling out a grand final rematch to open the season.
However, sources have informed The Sunday Telegraph that at least one of the clubs is interested in transferring their first encounter next season to Telstra, believing they could draw a crowd in excess of 40,000.
The Sunday Telegraph
By ADAM HAWSE
November 9, 2003
THIS is the first picture of the beleaguered Cronulla Sharks and the man most expect to be their new coach for the 2004 season.
While Stuart Raper, seen here controlling a Sharks training run at Wanda beach on Friday, is still officially an assistant to Chris Anderson, that situation is expected to change this month.
Anderson will attend a meeting with the Cronulla board when he returns from the Kangaroo tour on November 26, where it is anticipated his contract will be terminated.
Raper, who joined the Sharks after coaching stints with Castleford and Wigan in the UK, has settled in despite the constant speculation he is set to take over the head coaching job.
"Stuart's fine, he's going great," said Sharks chairman Barry Pierce.
"He had a meeting prior to Chris going overseas and they outlined pre-season training.
"He's settled in well and I spoke to him yesterday and he said he was very impressed with the fitness levels of the guys."
Anderson remains determined to see out the final year of his contract, but should he be sacked by the club, one of Raper's first tasks will be to convince Test centre Phil Bailey to stay with the Sharks.
Bailey has a get-out clause in his contract if Anderson is not coach, a fact bandied about after the latest public stoush between coach and club officials over the sacking of Anderson's son, Jarrad, from the player roster.
"For as long as the Anderson thing has been an issue, it's very clear that since Cronulla have taken an open approach to this, that Phil has an out-clause in his contract," said Bailey's manager George Mimis.
"As a result of that a number of clubs have expressed a show of interest if Chris is not coaching and Phil exercises his out-clause. Phil's position is he'll reserve his judgement.
"He enjoys playing under 'Opes' and he was a big factor in him leaving Manly to join Cronulla."
Pierce, however, said any attempts by an NRL club to poach Bailey would be in breach of the premiership's anti-tampering laws.
"I know nothing of any approaches, but if we found out then naturally we'd take it through the correct channels to the NRL," he said.
"Phil's over there in the UK playing in a Test so I don't think he'd be interested in talking about back home at present anyway.
"The bottom line is he's under contract to us and that's how it is."
Cronulla players have been told by the club not to speak publicly about the coaching imbroglio.
Prop Danny Nutley said the team is focused on consigning a poor 2003 season to history.
"It's got nothing to do with us, so we're just staying out of it," Nutley said.
"Last year was disappointing but we've got to put that behind us."
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs are set to again feature in a first-round double-header at Telstra Stadium on a Saturday night.
Both teams will host games against yet-to-be finalised opposition.
Penrith and Sydney Roosters will be given a home game, ruling out a grand final rematch to open the season.
However, sources have informed The Sunday Telegraph that at least one of the clubs is interested in transferring their first encounter next season to Telstra, believing they could draw a crowd in excess of 40,000.
The Sunday Telegraph
