December 2, 2003
VETERAN fullback David Peachey - Cronulla's longest-serving player - today endorsed Stuart Raper as the answer to the Sharks' coaching problems.
Raper was expected to be formally offered the position as Cronulla coach tonight after the National Rugby League club's decision to finally sack Chris Anderson yesterday.
As Anderson's messy relationship with the Sharks board headed for the courts, Raper was set to be ushered back to the club where his coaching career began before he set off for a stint with English Super League giant Wigan.
He guided the Sharks' 1994 Presidents Cup team to premiership glory and Peachey, while disappointed to have lost Anderson, said he'd welcome Raper back.
"I had the pleasure of being coached by Stuey when I first came down from Dubbo (in 1994). He's had a lot of experience since then - coached over in the UK - and I think he'll do a good job," said the former NSW State of Origin custodian.
Peachey said the Cronulla players had been behind Anderson, who had at least another year to run on his $400,000-a-season contract before being shown the door, but everyone was now ready to put the long-running coaching saga behind them.
That included Phil Bailey, the NSW Origin and Australian Test star with the get-out clause in his contract.
Bailey today said he was "very disappointed" with Anderson's sacking, but was likely to remain with the club.
"I would like to stay a Cronulla Shark because I like the area and I definitely like the guys I play with," Bailey said.
"A lot of players only come to the club because of Chris Anderson, so we're all right behind him.
"But now I guess they got rid of him, so we've got to knuckle down and go their way now with whatever they decide."
Bailey's management met with the Cronulla officials today and, although the 23-year-old utility felt it had been a mistake to axe Anderson, his playing options are limited.
Having broken into representative football this season, most clubs consider Bailey an appealing prospect, but most have also already completed their recruiting for 2004 and wouldn't be able to squeeze him under the salary cap.
Especially on an upgraded deal as a rep star.
"If I really had to go, I'd love to go to Balmain (Wests Tigers) because I was a Balmain supporter as a kid," he told Sydney radio 2KY today
But the Tigers are among the clubs unable to afford Bailey, who has been linked to a possible move to neighbouring St George Illawarra.
Anderson, meanwhile, would be seeking up to $1.2 million compensation from the Sharks should, as expected, he take legal action.
Under his contract, had he guided the Sharks to next season's finals, he could have stayed at Cronulla for a further two more years.
Australian Rugby League boss Geoff Carr today confirmed Anderson's credentials as national coach would not be affected by his not coaching at Cronulla.
Anderson said last week after returning from England, where he oversaw the Kangaroos' 3-0 whitewash of Great Britain in the Test series, that he would reconsider whether or not to reapply for the national post if he wasn't coaching the Sharks.
Meanwhile, the NRL's annual two-day conference of players, coaches and administrators gets underway at Coogee tomorrow.
Key items on the agenda are rules issues, finals series options, refereeing proposals and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The 2004 draw will also be released tomorrow
AAP
