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Phil Gould | May 18, 2008
Bookmakers have been swamped with bets suggesting the Cowboys' Graham Murray is about to become the first NRL coach sacked in 2008. It's a time-honoured formula that the best form guide you can ever find on a racetrack is to follow the money. The smart money could be right on the mark with this tip as well.
No one could blame the North Queensland management if they decide to end their association with Murray very soon. The Cowboys have already told the coach he is not wanted beyond this season. They've already signed his replacement for next year.
For all concerned it's probably best they bite the bullet and end this thing quickly, rather than allow their mediocre team performances to drag on any longer.
Telling a coach before a season starts that he is unwanted beyond the current year almost always leads to a poor season. Appointing a new coach to take his place before the current season ends only exacerbates an already untenable situation.
I can't believe Murray would want to continue working at the Cowboys under these circumstances. The losses are not looking good on his record and he must feel frustrated he has so little control over his team's results. Murray is no doubt holding on to collect the contract moneys to which he is entitled. The Cowboys should do the right thing, pay the man his dosh and let the suffering end. Then everyone can get on with their lives.
No one likes to see people lose their jobs and it is always hard for any management to have to end someone's tenure before it is due. But the Cowboys' management is responsible for the club's future. No one person is bigger than the club; the club must always come first.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis has a lot of sayings. One of his best is: "Losing is bad for business."
He's 100 per cent right. Losing is very bad for business. In this day and age, when clubs rely on gate takings and sponsorship to help balance the books, it is imperative your team is winning and demanding its fair share of viewing time on free-to-air television.
The Cowboys are in a rut. They're back in second-last position and, for a club with such a talented roster of players, this is an unacceptable situation. It is highly unlikely this coach can resurrect the Cowboys' fortunes this season. Once a coach has lost his players he rarely wins them back.
The first indication that players are not committed to their coach is in the team's attitude to defence. The Cowboys have been poor in this area for the last 15 months and their last three losses have shown up some alarming defensive lapses.
Their management is probably aware such a decision would attract stinging criticism from sections of the media who have been staunch Murray supporters over the years. However, they should never underestimate the intelligence of the public, who really do see through these juvenile campaigns.
Gee, if I worried about what was said in the Daily Astonisher, I'd never say or write a thing! I can assure you that will never happen. Anyway, the North Queensland Cowboys are a great rugby league club. They are also too important to the success of the NRL for them not to be performing at their best.
They need to act now to stop the bleeding and get themselves back on track.
WHIFF OF AN ORIGIN UPSET IS IN THE AIR
Tread warily, my friends, before having a bet on the State of Origin opener. Don't believe the hype. I have a sneaking suspicion the bookies' prices overrate Queensland and totally underestimate NSW.
The media, over the past couple of weeks, have virtually given up hope of a NSW victory and it's generally considered the Maroons will win in a canter.
I think we've seen this situation before. It's always dangerous to completely write off one team's chances. Origin history is littered with amazing upsets and turnarounds.
This game has a real smell of 2002 about it. In preparation for game one of that series, the papers said the NSW team selected was the worst in NSW Origin history. History shows the Blues, in a stunning performance, won that game 32-4.
In the past week just about everyone has had their say on the selection of this NSW team. Granted, it's not the team I would have chosen, but I'm not about to criticise the selected team for two very good reasons.
Firstly, I don't wish to rain on the parade of all those excited families who are looking forward to their man making his Origin debut in this most prestigious of appointments. Secondly, they are all very good footballers.
It remains to be seen whether they can come together in a week to form a successful team, but you can't deny the individual talents of the men chosen to represent their state.
I also think the Queenslanders could be vulnerable for a number of reasons. They don't handle favouritism well. Origin doesn't work for them unless they are underdogs.
They don't handle Sydney well, either. If we get one of those cool winter nights with a slippery playing surface, the Queensland backs might not have the influence everyone predicts.
I honestly believe Queensland will miss Darren Lockyer. Lockyer helps the Maroons get their game on. As good a player as Karmichael Hunt might be, he cannot possibly have Lockyer's influence. Queensland has erred in playing Hunt at five-eighth and this could play into NSW's hands.
Steve Price is another player Queensland will miss. He always puts pressure on the NSW kickers. With Price out injured, the alleged weaknesses in the NSW kicking game might not be exposed as they would if he was playing.
I can see NSW manufacturing a couple of tries. There are a couple of weaknesses they can target in the Queensland defensive line. They just have to make a priority of protecting whatever points they accumulate and making enough to win.
This Blues team is potentially a very good defensive unit and could well frustrate Queensland out of the game. After all, the pressure is on Queensland. They are red-hot favourites.
Phil Gould | May 18, 2008
Bookmakers have been swamped with bets suggesting the Cowboys' Graham Murray is about to become the first NRL coach sacked in 2008. It's a time-honoured formula that the best form guide you can ever find on a racetrack is to follow the money. The smart money could be right on the mark with this tip as well.
No one could blame the North Queensland management if they decide to end their association with Murray very soon. The Cowboys have already told the coach he is not wanted beyond this season. They've already signed his replacement for next year.
For all concerned it's probably best they bite the bullet and end this thing quickly, rather than allow their mediocre team performances to drag on any longer.
Telling a coach before a season starts that he is unwanted beyond the current year almost always leads to a poor season. Appointing a new coach to take his place before the current season ends only exacerbates an already untenable situation.
I can't believe Murray would want to continue working at the Cowboys under these circumstances. The losses are not looking good on his record and he must feel frustrated he has so little control over his team's results. Murray is no doubt holding on to collect the contract moneys to which he is entitled. The Cowboys should do the right thing, pay the man his dosh and let the suffering end. Then everyone can get on with their lives.
No one likes to see people lose their jobs and it is always hard for any management to have to end someone's tenure before it is due. But the Cowboys' management is responsible for the club's future. No one person is bigger than the club; the club must always come first.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis has a lot of sayings. One of his best is: "Losing is bad for business."
He's 100 per cent right. Losing is very bad for business. In this day and age, when clubs rely on gate takings and sponsorship to help balance the books, it is imperative your team is winning and demanding its fair share of viewing time on free-to-air television.
The Cowboys are in a rut. They're back in second-last position and, for a club with such a talented roster of players, this is an unacceptable situation. It is highly unlikely this coach can resurrect the Cowboys' fortunes this season. Once a coach has lost his players he rarely wins them back.
The first indication that players are not committed to their coach is in the team's attitude to defence. The Cowboys have been poor in this area for the last 15 months and their last three losses have shown up some alarming defensive lapses.
Their management is probably aware such a decision would attract stinging criticism from sections of the media who have been staunch Murray supporters over the years. However, they should never underestimate the intelligence of the public, who really do see through these juvenile campaigns.
Gee, if I worried about what was said in the Daily Astonisher, I'd never say or write a thing! I can assure you that will never happen. Anyway, the North Queensland Cowboys are a great rugby league club. They are also too important to the success of the NRL for them not to be performing at their best.
They need to act now to stop the bleeding and get themselves back on track.
WHIFF OF AN ORIGIN UPSET IS IN THE AIR
Tread warily, my friends, before having a bet on the State of Origin opener. Don't believe the hype. I have a sneaking suspicion the bookies' prices overrate Queensland and totally underestimate NSW.
The media, over the past couple of weeks, have virtually given up hope of a NSW victory and it's generally considered the Maroons will win in a canter.
I think we've seen this situation before. It's always dangerous to completely write off one team's chances. Origin history is littered with amazing upsets and turnarounds.
This game has a real smell of 2002 about it. In preparation for game one of that series, the papers said the NSW team selected was the worst in NSW Origin history. History shows the Blues, in a stunning performance, won that game 32-4.
In the past week just about everyone has had their say on the selection of this NSW team. Granted, it's not the team I would have chosen, but I'm not about to criticise the selected team for two very good reasons.
Firstly, I don't wish to rain on the parade of all those excited families who are looking forward to their man making his Origin debut in this most prestigious of appointments. Secondly, they are all very good footballers.
It remains to be seen whether they can come together in a week to form a successful team, but you can't deny the individual talents of the men chosen to represent their state.
I also think the Queenslanders could be vulnerable for a number of reasons. They don't handle favouritism well. Origin doesn't work for them unless they are underdogs.
They don't handle Sydney well, either. If we get one of those cool winter nights with a slippery playing surface, the Queensland backs might not have the influence everyone predicts.
I honestly believe Queensland will miss Darren Lockyer. Lockyer helps the Maroons get their game on. As good a player as Karmichael Hunt might be, he cannot possibly have Lockyer's influence. Queensland has erred in playing Hunt at five-eighth and this could play into NSW's hands.
Steve Price is another player Queensland will miss. He always puts pressure on the NSW kickers. With Price out injured, the alleged weaknesses in the NSW kicking game might not be exposed as they would if he was playing.
I can see NSW manufacturing a couple of tries. There are a couple of weaknesses they can target in the Queensland defensive line. They just have to make a priority of protecting whatever points they accumulate and making enough to win.
This Blues team is potentially a very good defensive unit and could well frustrate Queensland out of the game. After all, the pressure is on Queensland. They are red-hot favourites.
