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Furner still has 'full support'
BY CHRIS DUTTONRUGBY LEAGUE
06 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM
David Furner has the ''full support'' of the Canberra Raiders board but there's only one thing that will ease the escalating pressure on his NRL coaching job a win.The Raiders' disappointing season slumped further when the Sydney Roosters beat them 22-12 on Sunday.
They are now in danger of losing five games in a row for the first time in a season since 2005 and only the third time in a quarter of a century.
But despite their woeful recent performances, Raiders chairman John McIntyre insisted the board had no intention of ousting Furner before the end of his contract, which expires at the end of 2011.
And he was adamant the relationship between club chief executive Don Furner and his brother David would not impede any potential board move.
''Don is the first to declare there's a conflict of interest there, that partnership is unique and we see it as the way of the future,'' McIntyre said.
''You go back through the history of our club and we've never sacked a coach and there have been no discussions [about sacking] the current coaching situation.
''I've got no problems at all with Dave and what he has been doing, we're obviously just in dire need of a quality halfback.
''All we can do is back the coaching staff and management with our full support. And I hate saying that because it's like the corporate kiss of death, you say that and then two weeks later the person talked about is gone.
''That's certainly not the situation here ... everyone feels the frustration that Dave and all the players are feeling at the moment.''
A deeply frustrated Furner was frank in his assessment of his team's form and the intense scrutiny on his job when he arrived at the players' recovery session yesterday.
He said the Raiders lacked the ''killer instinct'' required to be one of the top teams in the competition.
The Raiders had ample opportunities to beat the Roosters, but their struggling attack failed to end the team's losing streak.
They have won just two of their seven games at Canberra Stadium this season. Their dismal efforts in the capital have them on track for one of the worst home records in the club's history.
And until his team can turn it around on the field, Furner is resigned to the fact angry fans will vent their frustration at him.
Fans flooded the internet yesterday to voice their dissatisfaction with the way the Raiders have been playing. ''[Pressure] is always there, it's on every game,'' Furner said.
''I want results, I want the team to get those and we have had good wins.
''But that pressure is 24/7.
''The biggest thing is, and I said this to the team, it's a time to stick together.
''I understand my role, I understand it's a position that is results driven.
''No one hurts more than me.
''We put a tremendous amount of effort in to try and get results ... the fans have to stay loyal because we are working very hard.
''There are times there when maybe a little bit of inexperience is there and we don't win those games ... we just have to be patient.''
The Raiders are 13th on the ladder and need to win seven of their last nine games to feature in the finals.
But Furner said his focus was on beating the Manly Sea-Eagles on Saturday night, not a top-eight spot.
After appearing to find their form in the middle of the season with back-to-back wins against the top of the table St George Illawarra Dragons and the Gold Coast Titans, Canberra has struggled.
It has won just five games this season.
But Raiders board member John McKay said the extra pressure to perform should be on the players, not Furner.
''I don't think the problem is with Dave at all,'' McKay said.
''I think there is some kind of attitude problem in the team.''
SATURDAY
NRL Round 18: Manly Sea-Eagles v Canberra Raiders at Brookvale Oval, 5.30pm. TV Time: Live on Fox Sports2.
For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=2
BY CHRIS DUTTONRUGBY LEAGUE
06 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM
David Furner has the ''full support'' of the Canberra Raiders board but there's only one thing that will ease the escalating pressure on his NRL coaching job a win.The Raiders' disappointing season slumped further when the Sydney Roosters beat them 22-12 on Sunday.
They are now in danger of losing five games in a row for the first time in a season since 2005 and only the third time in a quarter of a century.
But despite their woeful recent performances, Raiders chairman John McIntyre insisted the board had no intention of ousting Furner before the end of his contract, which expires at the end of 2011.
And he was adamant the relationship between club chief executive Don Furner and his brother David would not impede any potential board move.
''Don is the first to declare there's a conflict of interest there, that partnership is unique and we see it as the way of the future,'' McIntyre said.
''You go back through the history of our club and we've never sacked a coach and there have been no discussions [about sacking] the current coaching situation.
''I've got no problems at all with Dave and what he has been doing, we're obviously just in dire need of a quality halfback.
''All we can do is back the coaching staff and management with our full support. And I hate saying that because it's like the corporate kiss of death, you say that and then two weeks later the person talked about is gone.
''That's certainly not the situation here ... everyone feels the frustration that Dave and all the players are feeling at the moment.''
A deeply frustrated Furner was frank in his assessment of his team's form and the intense scrutiny on his job when he arrived at the players' recovery session yesterday.
He said the Raiders lacked the ''killer instinct'' required to be one of the top teams in the competition.
The Raiders had ample opportunities to beat the Roosters, but their struggling attack failed to end the team's losing streak.
They have won just two of their seven games at Canberra Stadium this season. Their dismal efforts in the capital have them on track for one of the worst home records in the club's history.
And until his team can turn it around on the field, Furner is resigned to the fact angry fans will vent their frustration at him.
Fans flooded the internet yesterday to voice their dissatisfaction with the way the Raiders have been playing. ''[Pressure] is always there, it's on every game,'' Furner said.
''I want results, I want the team to get those and we have had good wins.
''But that pressure is 24/7.
''The biggest thing is, and I said this to the team, it's a time to stick together.
''I understand my role, I understand it's a position that is results driven.
''No one hurts more than me.
''We put a tremendous amount of effort in to try and get results ... the fans have to stay loyal because we are working very hard.
''There are times there when maybe a little bit of inexperience is there and we don't win those games ... we just have to be patient.''
The Raiders are 13th on the ladder and need to win seven of their last nine games to feature in the finals.
But Furner said his focus was on beating the Manly Sea-Eagles on Saturday night, not a top-eight spot.
After appearing to find their form in the middle of the season with back-to-back wins against the top of the table St George Illawarra Dragons and the Gold Coast Titans, Canberra has struggled.
It has won just five games this season.
But Raiders board member John McKay said the extra pressure to perform should be on the players, not Furner.
''I don't think the problem is with Dave at all,'' McKay said.
''I think there is some kind of attitude problem in the team.''
SATURDAY
NRL Round 18: Manly Sea-Eagles v Canberra Raiders at Brookvale Oval, 5.30pm. TV Time: Live on Fox Sports2.
For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=2
