Potential Eels coach Josh Hannay seeks clarity the club’s challenges
Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay is one of the lead contenders for Parramatta’s head coaching position, but would like a deeper understanding of the inner-workings of the club.
Queensland Origin assistant Josh Hannay has confirmed he has been short-listed for the Eels coaching job and believes he is the man to snap Parramatta’s agonising 38-year premiership drought.
In his first interview since being added to the shortlist to succeed sacked Parramatta mentor Brad Arthur, Hannay declared he is ready to launch his NRL head-coaching career at the Eels.
The glamour western Sydney club has not won a premiership since 1986, but that is no concern for Hannay, who is among six contenders for the Parramatta post.
NSW Origin coach Michael Maguire, Jason Ryles, Knights assistant Brian McDermott and former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika are others in the mix.
“Yes, the role certainly appeals to me on face value,” Hannay said.
“The Eels are a big club, well-resourced, you look at the roster and there is some strength to their roster.
“I would need to get a deeper understanding of the inner-workings of the club before I know how appealing the job is, but it seems appealing.”
Hannay has a formidable resume.
The 44-year-old played 153 NRL games at the Cowboys and Cronulla, plus two Origin matches for Queensland, before moving into coaching with Souths Logan in the Hostplus Cup.
A current club assistant to Cronulla mentor Craig Fitzgibbon, Hannay has served as an interim NRL coach at the Cowboys and Sharks and would relish the chance to step up with the Eels.
“I think I’m ready because of the journey I have been on,” he said.
“I have been very privileged to work with coaches like Paul Green, Craig Fitzgibbon and Billy Slater and every step along the way you are learning from guys who are renowned winners.
“‘Greeny’ won a premiership at the Cowboys, ‘Fitzy’ worked with Trent Robinson at the Roosters and won a number of comps there.
“With Billy, all he has done all his life is win.
“When you work alongside guys like them with their own strengths, for me as a coach I have my own strengths, but you also take little bits and pieces from others on that journey.
“That has led to a point where I’d like to think I’m a well-rounded coach ready for an opportunity.
“Whether that’s with Parramatta or someone else further down the line, time will tell, but in terms of readiness, I can’t be better prepared or better educated to be a head coach.”
Hannay has fond memories of Parramatta’s last premiership win almost 40 years ago. He would relish breaking the drought.
“My first memories of rugby league as a kid, I was six years old growing up in Moranbah, was the 1986 grand final,” he said.
“It was the tryless 4-2 grand final between Parramatta and the Bulldogs.
“I had a Parramatta shirt I used to wear as a kid growing up following the game.
“I am well aware of the history of the club and the great names like (Brett) Kenny, (Ray) Price and (Peter) Sterling.
“It’s been a long time since they have won a premiership and they have been starved of success as a club in recent times.
“There is an external pressure that comes with that because of the appetite for the next premiership, but the saying goes, ‘pressure is a privilege’ and whoever steps into the role will be working with a club that wants that success.
“That is a good thing that they are craving that success. Whoever gets that role will be stepping into a position where the pressure is there, but that’s exciting as well.
