Parramatta and St George Illawarra have Neil Henry on radar
by: Brent Read
From: The Australian
September 06, 2013 12:00AM
DEPARTING North Queensland coach Neil Henry could become the subject of a tug-of-war between Parramatta and St George Illawarra as speculation intensifies over the futures of Ricky Stuart and Steve Price.
Henry, who will end his association with the Cowboys when their season concludes, has also been linked with the Wests Tigers. However, any lingering doubts over Tigers coach Mick Potter have been removed after chairman Mike Bailey revealed the club's board of directors had endorsed the rookie coach for next season.
The same can't be said for the Dragons and Eels. Price is under immense pressure at St George Illawarra as the club conducts an internal and external review of its football operations.
Although he has another year remaining on his contract with the Dragons, the odds are lengthening that he will see it out.
Aside from the disappointing win-loss ratio, the club also saw one of its most promising young players, Jackson Hastings, last week announce he would join the Roosters.
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A blow to the Dragons, it also shapes as a sledgehammer hit on Price and his ability to attract and retain quality young players.
As for Stuart, he is expected to make a decision on his future after the Eels' final game of the season against Newcastle on Sunday.
It looks increasingly likely he will join Canberra next season, leaving Parramatta on the look-out for a new coach.
Henry, who has presided over a resurgence that has the Cowboys on the cusp of playing finals football, could come into the equation for the Parramatta job.
Should the Eels opt to look elsewhere - Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Taylor has been mentioned as a potential head coach - the Dragons would have a free run at Henry.
St George Illawarra has also been linked with Tim Sheens but his chances of securing a club job are hurt to some extent by his commitment to the Kangaroos.
Sheens has national commitments until the start of December, meaning any club that hires him would need to begin its pre-season in the hands of someone else.
Henry has no such burden. After being told his services were no longer required in Townsville, he led the Cowboys on a five-game winning streak that has put the club back in the top eight.
He has made no secret of his desire to continue coaching, even if it means as an assistant. Gold Coast had sounded him out about joining its coaching staff but it has since become apparent he is likely to land a head coaching position in the NRL.
While Parramatta, Canberra and the Dragons deal with uncertainty over their coaching futures, the Tigers have ended any doubts over their commitment to Potter.
Potter was under immense pressure during the latter stages of the season but the focus switched in recent weeks away from the Tigers and on to the respective futures of Stuart and Price.
Potter, meanwhile, has watched his side's fortunes improve in recent weeks, first with a victory over the Dragons and then with a fighting performance against South Sydney.
"The board has endorsed him," Bailey said. "He will be there in '14 which I think will be a plus for the team. It's a plus for him too. He's had a pretty tough introduction to things.
"He certainly deserves the endorsement of the board for another chance."
Potter has presided over the Tigers during a season of flux highlighted by the failed contract talks with superstar Benji Marshall, who will play his final
game for the club tomorrow night when the Tigers travel to North Queensland.
At the same time, Potter has blooded a host of youngsters, the brightest and best being halfback Luke Brooks.
He will take charge next season with a revamped coaching structure and a beefed up sports science department.
Most importantly, he will do so with the board's imprimatur.
