As coach hunt begins, Eels say Stuart could have stayed
Date
September 13, 2013
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
Jason Taylor's ability to get the best out of troubled halfback Chris Sandow could give him the edge as Parramatta begin the search for a successor to coach Ricky Stuart.
The development came amid revelations the Eels would have taken the extraordinary step of extending Stuart's contract at the wooden-spooners had he spurned Canberra's advances.
Stuart activated a get-out clause to take up a three-year deal with the Raiders, despite having two years remaining on his deal with the blue and golds.
On another dramatic day for the Eels, the club announced:
There would be no backflip on the decision to axe a dozen players, despite Stuart's exit;
Officials would not stand in the way of players who wanted to follow Stuart out the door;
Future coaching and playing contracts would be without get-out clauses; and
The Eels would consider a ''reverse Canberra'' by targeting the best possible candidate, even if contracted to a rival.
While Stuart appeared under pressure after winning only five games to earn the wooden spoon in his first season at the helm, Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp revealed his tenure was about to be extended.
''If Ricky had made the decision not to go to Canberra and had come back and said, 'This is all over, I'm staying here at Parramatta', we would have looked at an extension of his contract to make sure we had a coach for four or five years,'' Sharp said.
''I want some security and stability. The reason Ricky got asked to go to Canberra was because he is a great asset, someone who can make it all work.''
Then-chairman Roy Spagnolo hailed Stuart as the best signing since Jack Gibson. Asked if he regretted the comment, Spagnolo said: ''I thought at the time he could rebuild the club and bring us premiership glory.''
Parramatta directors could meet as early as Sunday to discuss potential replacements, and former Eels halfback Taylor and outgoing North Queensland mentor Neil Henry enjoy some board support.
Taylor - who coached the club to the finals in 2006 from a seemingly impossible position after taking over from Brian Smith midyear - has enjoyed a groundswell of support from supporters on social media.
It was his relationship with Sandow, however, that could tip the decision in his favour. Taylor introduced Sandow into first grade at South Sydney in 2008 and the enigmatic halfback went on to claim the Dally M rookie of the year honours as the Rabbitohs made the finals for the first time in more than two decades.
Sandow, dogged by personal problems, has been unable to reproduce that form since shifting to the Eels. But Taylor, who also coached Jarryd Hayne to rookie-of-the-year honours, is viewed by some powerbrokers as the man to get the best out of a player earning $550,000 a season.
Taylor is at the Roosters as their attack coach and the minor premiers have scored 640 points this year, 51 more than closest rival Melbourne.
Stuart's departure raised speculation the dozen players deemed surplus to requirements for next year could stay if deemed worthy of a spot by the new coach, but Sharp said the decision to move them on stood.
''That decision was not just Ricky's decision, that was a board decision,'' Sharp said. ''We needed to free up the salary cap and move forward. We need to change our playing roster.
''I'm not saying those people aren't good-quality footballers and I hope they find new clubs and be very, very successful. They just weren't working in our environment. We want to build a new culture and environment.''
Stuart made former Test back-rower Reni Maitua co-captain before informing him he would be one of the players moving on.
Maitua, poised to join Canterbury, said he held no grudges against Stuart. Asked if the next coach would be handed a poisoned chalice, he said: ''I don't think so. It's been a bit of a mess, it's been well documented, the board don't get along. Everyone needs to come to an agreement that the club is hurting and they all need to get on the same page quickly or they will have another season like this year.
''It all starts from the top. Board members need to get along … to be successful.''
The Eels have been aggressive in the market and have signed Will Hopoate, Nathan Peats, Corey Norman, Lee Mossop and Justin Hunt for next year. It's understood, however, that some have a get-out clause allowing them to leave if the coach does.
''I'll tell everybody, while Steve Sharp is the chairman of this club, no contract in the future for either player, official or coach will be a one-way street,'' Sharp said.
''I'm excited about the playing roster we've got coming. I want people who want to be at our club. Anyone who wants out, I'm not going to stop them.''
