Hagan likely to coach Eels after Newcastle bid him goodnight
Email Print Normal font Large font January 14, 2006
NEWCASTLE coach Michael Hagan looks set to take over at Parramatta in 2007 after the Knights yesterday announced they would not be extending his contract beyond this season.
The Eels have reportedly been pursuing Hagan since November, when it was revealed last year's minor premiers would not be extending Brian Smith's stay at the club beyond 2006.
Hagan this week informed the Newcastle board that he had received a formal offer from a rival NRL club, and asked that a decision on his future with the Knights be brought forward.
"The Knights board had previously indicated they would not make a decision on Michael's future until mid-season," Newcastle chairman Michael Tyler said. "That decision was brought forward to today at the request of Michael, who informed the Knights board he had received an offer from another NRL club and asked for an answer on his future.
"Under those circumstances, the board made their decision not to extend the current contract."
While Parramatta chief executive Dennis Fitzgerald would not confirm yesterday whether the Eels had in fact offered Hagan a deal for 2007 and beyond, there appears little doubt the premiership-winning coach will be taking over from Smith next season.
If the move is confirmed before the start of the season, it will add plenty of spice to the season-opening clash between the Knights and the Eels at EnergyAustralia Stadium on the second weekend in March.
Hagan, who guided Queensland to consecutive State of Origin series defeats in 2004-05, was always considered the favourite for the Eels job ahead of a host of aspirants including Parramatta assistant coaches Peter Sharp and Jason Taylor.
Sharp has now emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Hagan in Newcastle, having begun his coaching career there with the Knights' lower-grade teams in the early 1990s.
Fitzgerald said the Eels wanted the position filled before the 2006 kick-off, so as to put an end to rumour mongering and to give Smith the best chance for success this season.
Hagan, too, will have the full support of the Knights board in 2006 after the injury-plagued club took its first wooden spoon last season under his charge. But Tyler yesterday admitted it was probably time for a change at the helm, with Hagan now the club's longest-serving coach.
"Six years is certainly a long time at one club in the modern era, but we hope Michael's last season in charge is as successful as his first," Tyler said, referring to Hagan's effort in guiding the Knights to an upset grand final victory over the Eels in 2001. "He will certainly receive the club's full support in endeavouring to turn around last year's results and vie for the premiership in '06."
Meanwhile, a three-month recovery awaits former Australian Test forward Bryan Fletcher after he was finally released from an English hospital following emergency surgery on a life-threatening bowel condition.
The former South Sydney skipper walked into the offices of his new club Wigan yesterday in a welcome sign that he was well on the way to recovery from his health scare.
Fletcher was released on Tuesday, more than a week after being diagnosed with a blocked bowel and having a part of his small intestine removed at Wigan Royal Infirmary.
After complaining of stomach cramps, Fletcher was rushed into surgery on New Year's Day.
■ Johnathan Thurston yesterday was named deputy to North Queensland Cowboys skipper Travis Norton. Norton retained the captaincy after steering the Cowboys to their maiden NRL grand final last year, which they lost to fellow surprise packets Wests Tigers.
In only his second season with North Queensland, Thurston, 22, replaced the incumbent vice-captain, prop Paul Rauhihi, who has left for English club Warrington.
AAP
