coach of the year

[ozbash]

<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=156 align=left bgcolor=#ffffff border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td>

</td></tr> <tr> <td>Daniel Anderson instructing the troops. </td></tr></tbody></table>Daniel Anderson For Coach Of The Year?

High praise for New Zealand Warriors coach Daniel Anderson ahead of tonight's National Rugby League awards dinner across the Tasman.
Parramatta coach Brian Smith has declared Anderson worthy of the coach of the year title.
Smith is widely tipped to take the title himself after taking the Eels to the minor premiership, but says his former assistant has done a magnificent job at the Warriors and must be a contender.

 

[Bomber]

Yep, Ando for sure

 

[legend]

I would give it to Anderson. He has done a remarkable job with the Warriors and deserves a lot of the credit for the teams success.

 

[Cronulla_Mania]

Anderson would be a deserving winner...
But so would Steve Folkes (for bringing a side up from 11th to 2nd in one year..with basically a similar bunch of players) and Brian Smith (just for sheer creativity)
Worst coach?? Did someone say...um.....Big Mal? (sorry legend lol)
MFC.

 

[Eelectric]

Steve Folks? Sheeesh!!!

Anderson has done a fantastic job with a team that was in utter turmoil at the beginning of the season and deserves it. He is definately my choice with Smith runningsecond and daylight third.

 

[imported_Roopy4246]

Michael Hagan has finished third in his first season. He has coped pretty well with a high injury toll and has his team firing at the right end of the season. Behind the scenes he has changed the culture at the club somewhat by having the first grade and first div sides training together at least once a week and the Flegg side sometimes as well.
Hagan is a very open and honest bloke with a very even temperament. It would be very hard to find anyone with a bad word to say about him after his first season, despite a lot of 'super league traitor' rumblings at the start of the season. His offsider, football manager Marc Sargeant, has also been really good for the club.

 

[Bryce]

Brian Smith, then a light year to Anderson

Anderson did well, but face it, the Warriors should have ben a semi finals side from day one.

Brian Smith has created the best attacking unit in Rugby League history. Coach of the year? How about Nobel Prize?????

 

[ozbash]

bryce, i think you are forgetting that the a lotof the eels were coached by anderson in first grade.

its no secret that the key to parra's success this year has been the kiwi contingent.

 

[Bryce]

Ozbash, as much as you are thinking with a silver fern on your heart, you can't gie the award for deeds in years gone by. Otherwise Jack Gib bson would always win it!

There were only 2 Eels born in NZ: Solomona and Vaialiki. Good players, but hardly the backbone of the Eels success.

 

[Ramit54]

Coach of the year Murray Hurst for taking on the Cowboys job and avoiding the wooden spoon.
Cheers Retread

 

[imported_Hazy]

Bryce - the warriors couldnt be competitive from day one....

all the 'good' kiwis (and I use that term loosely) were already contracted to English or Australian clubs.

...and if Anderson does get the nod - he should mention Kevin Campion.

 

[imported_footy2k]

no bryce it's
Daniel Anderson then a light year to Brian Smith who has made it a DAMN LONG TIME COMING

 

[imported_footy2k]

"Brian Smith has created the best attacking unit in Rugby League history. Coach of the year? How about Nobel Prize?????"

bryce you must only be basing that (best attacking unit in Rugby League history) since the start of this year!
this team would have absolutely nothing on the brilliant teams of the past - in attack.

 

[Hass]

I don't know if there's ever been a precedent set in the past, but if I was choosing it I'd award Daniel Anderson and Brian Smith the title of "Joint Coaches of The Year".

Honestly, Anderson has worked wonders at the Warriors instilling a new system and feeling at the club. Then again, Smith has moved Parramatta up from 7th to runaway first. He has been incredibly innovative allowing his inexperienced team to play with flair, yet has still produced a well drilled team.

I can't split 'em. If the Dally M can be a tie, I say the Coaches award can be too.

Cheers.

 

[Eelectric]

this team would have absolutely nothing on the brilliant teams of the past - in attack.
That would have to rank as the most idiotic statement I have ever read in light of the facts of thembreaking every point scoring and try scoring record in the game. What sort of goose are you?

 

[TheSaint]

Coach of the year is an award that it usually decided between the coach of a side who over achieved, or a champion side that played beyond it's potential.

The way Brian Smith has got his team playing, you must consider him. they are a good team with no genuine star players.

New Zealand Warriors Coach Daniel Anderson would all so be up there as what he did was quiet extraordinary. How ever, I think they could have done a little more. The Warriors still failed to be constistant. There were a few easy games that they should of won but didn't.

Steve Folks all so took a very average side to second place on the ladder. On paper, there wouldn't be much between the Dogs and Warriors, yet on the table, the difference was 6 places.

For mine, Brian Smith would still win because of the level he has taken his side. How ever, he needs to win a Premiership. He has failed twice with Saints, and Parra have got to the final hurdle on the three previous attempts and failed to reach the final. this however doesn't take away from his season's coaching.

So for the 26 Rounds of Football,Brian Smith first, Folks Second, Anderson third.

 

[imported_bronco]

Well i certainly think the award should have gone to Anderson. At the start of the year Anderson didn't know if he'd have 17 players to put on the paddock let alone even think about winning a game. Hes taken a bunch of wooden spoon destined no hopers to the semi finals for the first time in the Warriors history. He has shaped and moulded players into stars of the game. I'm sure not many of you had heard of Fa'fili, Toopi, Tony, Meli and co but you all know them now and their almost household names in NZ.

Brian Smiths Eels finished 4th last year. Yes they were 7th at the end of the round robin but they made the final four and finished in 4th place for the season. Hes taken a core group of players and taken them up the ladder a bit. He has transformed that team into one of the best teams we've seen in a couple of decades.
The Saint, no star players? Stop kidding yourself.Nathan Hindmarsh , Vaeliki, Solomona, Vella and Wagon have all played for state, country or both. I won't go through the names but theres a heap of very good first grade footballers after them. Even Mel Meninga could get that side a minor premiership.

Folks got his Bulldogs into a rut in the first place, so he fixed his own mistake well good on him but he can take 3rd. I couldn't believe how everyone pre season was doubting the Bulldogs. If you go back to my table in cyber kevs post you'll see i had them about 4th on my table and i was pretty close. They brought up well in the offseason adding some real attacking flair, add that to their tough pack and you have a winning combination.

Cheers
bronco

 

[El Duque]

I can see what Warlock was on about.

keep it up bronco

 

[imported_bronco]

Shove it duque

 

[bender]

What about Wayne Benett?

He took a bunch of young nobodies to the origin series victory.

He made the greatest call of all time by reinstating Allan Langer.

Hehas takenthe Broncos (who were written off because oftheir youth and the retirement of players to within 3 games of the premiership, despite an horrific injury toll.If they go all the way, there should be no question.

Other mentions:
Michael Hagan - has done well with a side written off because of their lack of depth.

Anderson - Obviously, the greatest effort since and probably including Phil Economidis.

Royce Simmons - Possible Wooden Spoon Contender.