Captain Apollo
Coach
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SMH has a few more options in its poll... Maguire, Ennis, Burgess, Green, and "Other" (McDermott)
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How many multiple votes did Isaac Moses cast for Blake Green in that poll?
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SMH has a few more options in its poll... Maguire, Ennis, Burgess, Green, and "Other" (McDermott
View attachment 88406
Cayless failed to make the finals for Wenty in both 2016 and 2017. He came back to Parra reserve grade and failed to make the semis in 2023 too.
I’m starting to warm to this idea. We’ve been risk averse for decades and it has gotten us nothing. Why not offer three years and see how Cheika goes. At worst we’re in a similar position than we’re in now. At best, the risk pays off. Use some of the resources now at our disposal to bring in the best tactical nous as assistants and see how we go.Brent Read: Lebanese connection gives untested NRL coach Michael Cheika leg up for Eels’ vacant head coach job
NRL clubs are generally risk-averse – but could a coach like Michael Cheika, who already has a relationship with Mitch Moses – actually be a good thing for Parramatta?
Risk-aversion are words normally associated with economics or finance. Over the coming weeks, it’s likely to rear its head in rugby league.
NRL clubs, in their pursuit of coaches, tend to minimise or reduce risk wherever possible. It’s why we see so many coaches getting recycled when a job becomes available.
The tried and tested seems to be preferable on most occasions. At least you know what you are going to get. The less surprises the better.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. History shows no coach is a guarantee.
There’s probably only four sure things in the modern game – Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson and maybe Ivan Cleary.
Even they have had their lean years. Wouldn’t it be ironic then if the one club that everyone chastises for their aversion to risk – the Parramatta Eels, so often lambasted as being the domain of bankers – took a punt in their search for their next coach.
The Eels are in the midst of finding a replacement of the axed Brad Arthur and a host of names have been thrust forward, both the old and the new.
Call it the tried and untested. The most intriguing is former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who has made no secret of his desire to have a crack at the NRL.
Cheika is expected to have a red-hot go at the Eels job. He won’t play it out in public, but will likely make his interest known behind closed doors.
It would be no surprise if Cheika was given an interview and once that door opens, it may be enough given his commanding presence.
Cheika is no stranger to rugby league – he was an assistant at the Sydney Roosters to Robinson and then took charge of Lebanon at the World Cup, where he did an outstanding job.
Spend some time in Cheika’s presence – as this columnist did in Manchester two years ago – and you can’t help but walk away impressed.
He is incredibly intelligent, self made and has a genuine presence. He owns a room and the people in it. He has had immense success in rugby union and craves a chance in rugby league.
The Eels would seem the perfect fit given he has connections at the club – at that World Cup two years ago, his star player was Eels halfback Mitchell Moses.
Moses is without doubt the most influential player at Parramatta and Cheika took a side featuring the Eels playmaker, Adam Doueihi and a handful of NSW Cup players all the way to the quarter-finals, where they ran into a rampant Australia.
He did it with an intelligent support cast and buy-in from his playing group, something the Eels would appear to desperately need right now.
The western Sydney powerhouse has gone nearly 40 years without a premiership and their supporters learned long ago not to get their hopes up.
All most of them know is bitter disappointment. Arthur got them close but not close enough. It’s now someone else’s turn to try to break the drought and Cheika should be in the mix.
He is smart enough to know what he doesn’t know. No doubt, he would surround himself with the right people but his strength is the dressing room and the people in it.
He knows how to get the best out of them and the talent at the Eels isn’t in question. They were in a grand final less than two years ago and their window is now open.
With some subtle tinkering, their squad appears in position to challenge for a premiership. Their next coach just needs to knit it all together.
That’s what Cheika does as well as anyone. Yes, it is a risk but it may be a risk worth taking. The Eels made a difficult call this week and they now face an even tougher one as they decide who is the right man to take the club forward.
They have been inundated with resumes and the usual suspects have been thrust upon them. NSW coach Michael Maguire would slide into the role and no doubt do a great job.
So too Melbourne assistant Jason Ryles, interim coach Trent Barrett and Cronulla’s Josh Hannay. Maybe Sam Burgess, Mick Ennis and Blake Green are ready to step up.
There are no shortage of options and the Eels are not necessarily in a rush. They can sit back, take their time and make an educated decision.
They have no need to take any risks. Then again, why not. Surely it’s time someone took a chance on Cheika.
I agree i have never been more keen to get a guy like Cheika in.
Agree with all that. If they want an experienced man manager, Cheika is the go. Otherwise Hannay or Holbrook. None of the other options appeal at all.
Cheika used to appear regularly on Triple M NRL Sunday show talking about Rugby League with Matty Johns when he was hosting it years ago back when he was coaching Waratahs.
