King of the Hill
Coach
- Messages
- 15,203
Daily Tele
By JAMES HOOPER
November 27, 2003
KANGAROOS halfback Brett Kimmorley has re-affirmed his commitment to Cronulla for the next four years despite coach Chris Anderson facing the axe this week.
But fellow teammate Phil Bailey refused to offer a similar guarantee as the Australian team returned home from their 3-0 Ashes triumph over Great Britain.
Decision day has finally arrived for the Cronulla board, who seven weeks ago barred Anderson from talking to Sharks players or attending training sessions.
At the time it appeared the club was manoeuvring to sack Anderson, issuing him with three warning letters.
That stance does not appear to have changed despite Anderson winning back some minor support among club directors after leading an under-strength Australian team to a series victory in the north of England.
Both Cronulla president Barry Pierce and Anderson have expressed a desire to resolve the situation as quickly as possible with a meeting expected to be arranged today or tomorrow.
"We want things cleared up as soon as we can but at this stage we are still waiting to hear from Chris," Pierce said.
"He's only just arrived home so obviously he would probably appreciate a day to rest and then we can sit down."
After making his way through Sydney Airport customs yesterday Anderson said he wanted the issue resolved for the sake of the Cronulla players.
"It's important to get it sorted out straight away," Anderson said.
"[The players] want to know what direction they're going in. Pre-season is pretty hard training if you don't know what's happening."
While Kimmorley and Bailey are both staunch Anderson supporters only the Test centre has a get-out clause at Cronulla should the coach be sacked.
There has been speculation Bailey may link with the Bulldogs or St George Illawarra if Anderson moves on but he was quick to label that nothing more than talk at this early stage of the season.
"I don't really know for sure because I'm in the middle of contract negotiations for a bit of an upgrade at the moment," Bailey said. "It's too hard to say. I love Cronulla but you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't."
The Sharks' coaching dilemma is expected to be resolved by tomorrow with assistant Stuart Raper widely tipped to take over.
The drama upstaged the return home of the Impossibles, the group of Australian players who travelled to England widely tipped as the first team to lose an Ashes series since 1970.
The omission of Penrith grand final winger Luke Lewis from the third Test team was the other hot topic yesterday, with Lewis saying reports he wanted to come home after a selection snub were incorrect.
Coach Anderson called the article in question "disgraceful".
"To embarrass a young player in front of his peers I think is pretty poor," Anderson said.
and from today's SMH:
Kimmorley, another player lured to the Sharks by Anderson, said he was committed to the club for the next four seasons, but declined to comment on the coaching situation. - take note phil bailey you might learn something from a player with class
By JAMES HOOPER
November 27, 2003
KANGAROOS halfback Brett Kimmorley has re-affirmed his commitment to Cronulla for the next four years despite coach Chris Anderson facing the axe this week.
But fellow teammate Phil Bailey refused to offer a similar guarantee as the Australian team returned home from their 3-0 Ashes triumph over Great Britain.
Decision day has finally arrived for the Cronulla board, who seven weeks ago barred Anderson from talking to Sharks players or attending training sessions.
At the time it appeared the club was manoeuvring to sack Anderson, issuing him with three warning letters.
That stance does not appear to have changed despite Anderson winning back some minor support among club directors after leading an under-strength Australian team to a series victory in the north of England.
Both Cronulla president Barry Pierce and Anderson have expressed a desire to resolve the situation as quickly as possible with a meeting expected to be arranged today or tomorrow.
"We want things cleared up as soon as we can but at this stage we are still waiting to hear from Chris," Pierce said.
"He's only just arrived home so obviously he would probably appreciate a day to rest and then we can sit down."
After making his way through Sydney Airport customs yesterday Anderson said he wanted the issue resolved for the sake of the Cronulla players.
"It's important to get it sorted out straight away," Anderson said.
"[The players] want to know what direction they're going in. Pre-season is pretty hard training if you don't know what's happening."
While Kimmorley and Bailey are both staunch Anderson supporters only the Test centre has a get-out clause at Cronulla should the coach be sacked.
There has been speculation Bailey may link with the Bulldogs or St George Illawarra if Anderson moves on but he was quick to label that nothing more than talk at this early stage of the season.
"I don't really know for sure because I'm in the middle of contract negotiations for a bit of an upgrade at the moment," Bailey said. "It's too hard to say. I love Cronulla but you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't."
The Sharks' coaching dilemma is expected to be resolved by tomorrow with assistant Stuart Raper widely tipped to take over.
The drama upstaged the return home of the Impossibles, the group of Australian players who travelled to England widely tipped as the first team to lose an Ashes series since 1970.
The omission of Penrith grand final winger Luke Lewis from the third Test team was the other hot topic yesterday, with Lewis saying reports he wanted to come home after a selection snub were incorrect.
Coach Anderson called the article in question "disgraceful".
"To embarrass a young player in front of his peers I think is pretty poor," Anderson said.
and from today's SMH:
Kimmorley, another player lured to the Sharks by Anderson, said he was committed to the club for the next four seasons, but declined to comment on the coaching situation. - take note phil bailey you might learn something from a player with class
