Hindmarsh kept in the dark over sacking
By David Beniuk AAP Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:06:53
Parramatta captain Nathan Hindmarsh says he was not consulted before the sacking of Daniel Anderson, despite an assurance from the NRL club the coach would survive the axe.
Anderson's contract was terminated with a year left to run on Sunday night after the Eels failed to make the top eight.
The sacking came less than 12 months after Parramatta played in the 2009 NRL grand final.
"I would have liked Ando to have stayed on, definitely," Hindmarsh said on Thursday.
"I think he's a great coach and two years as a coach isn't long enough to get a side where you want to get a side.
"I would have liked him to have stayed on but the board's made that decision and we've just got to live with it I suppose."
Hindmarsh confirmed he had been given assurances from the Eels board that Anderson would see out the full period of his contract.
"From what I remember we were given pretty much some sort of headbob that he would be staying, but things change," Hindmarsh said.
"I've just got to put up with the decision and get stuck into the pre-season."
Asked if he had been consulted about the decision, he said: "Not consulted, no. We were asked a few questions but not really consulted.
"But it's not my job to pick the coach, it's the board's job."
Hindmarsh denied there was any rift between the players and the board over the decision.
"There's no real air to clear," he said.
"I would like Ando to stay but my job is to get out there and play rugby league again.
"The decision's been made, (you) kick stones for a couple of days but now it's time to get on with it."
Centre Timana Tahu expressed his support for the board's decision on Wednesday, claiming he was forced to play with injury under Anderson, but Hindmarsh said the players supported the coach.
"I didn't know anyone that didn't want him there and if they didn't want him there they never spoke to me about it," he said.
"I would like to have thought they would have spoken to some senior players about that.
"99.9 per cent of the NRL players train with an injury, they just put up with it and that's part of the job."
But he said he had no plans to speak with Tahu, who was also caught up in a racism row with Andrew Johns and was suspended for a blatant high tackle during a tumultuous season.
"Timana's a big boy so if he wants to talk to someone he knows I'm there," Hindmarsh said.
"He has had a rough year.
"I'll sit down with all the boys before the season starts and we'll nut some stuff out, what we want to achieve and where things want to head."
Melbourne assistant and New Zealand World Cup winning coach Stephen Kearney is the favourite to replace Anderson.
"(Former Parramatta and Kiwis captain) Nathan Cayless has got massive wraps on him, so if he does happen to come all the signs are positive that he's a good coach," Hindmarsh added.
