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Neil Henry named new Cowboys coach

raidersforme

Juniors
Messages
487
Neil Henry named new Cowboys coach


April 2, 2008 - 1:24PM

North Queensland have confirmed they have signed Canberra Raiders coach Neil Henry on a five year deal from 2009.
The Cowboys have also announced that they have secured Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga on a four year deal.
Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said Henry's previous experience at North Queensland would be invaluable when he officially takes over the reins.
Henry served as current coach Graham Murray's assistant at the Cowboys from 2002-06 before linking with the Raiders last season.
"The club has conducted a comprehensive and thorough process in finalising his appointment," Parr told reporters in Townsville.
"Neil is a high quality coach who understands our club and the north Queensland community.
"He has served his apprenticeship.
"We have no doubt he is the best person for the position and he has the necessary attributes to take this club forward."
The North Queensland hierarchy told Murray before the 2008 NRL season that his contract would not be renewed next year.
Speculation has since been rife over who would fill Murray's shoes.
Rumours have also surfaced that Murray may not see out the season after North Queensland slumped to a 0-3 win-loss season start.
But Parr today confirmed Murray would finish the season as coach.
"We are quite happy that this decision ends the speculation," Parr said.
Henry was tipped to take over after he exercised a get-out clause to gain an early release from the final year of his Raiders contract earlier this week.
Meanwhile, North Queensland rubber stamped Tonga's arrival next year.
Tonga, 24, said yesterday that the prospect of playing alongside Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston and North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen had lured him north.
He has joined the Cowboys on a deal reportedly worth a massive $1.4 million.
Thurston and Tonga were teammates at the Bulldogs in 2004 when the club won their last premiership.
In the same year Tonga made his debut for Queensland and Australia and scored 18 tries in 27 appearances for the Bulldogs.
A knee injury wrecked the latter stages of his 2005 season - the year he played the last of his seven Tests for Australia.
The explosive centre believes playing alongside Thurston and being coached by Henry will help him break back into the representative arena after a three-year absence.
Tonga is in his fifth year at the Bulldogs.



http://news.smh.com.au/neil-henry-named-new-cowboys-coach/20080402-234n.html



Take the dog now, not Tonga
 

keeney

First Grade
Messages
6,640
I suppose Tonga still has youth on his side. But what has he shown in the last 3 years that is worth a contract of that size?
 

yobbo84

Coach
Messages
11,250
I still can't comprehend a contract of five years for a bloke who's greatest coaching achievement is taking the Raiders from 7th to 14th... rightio.
 

Ice777

Bench
Messages
3,120
350k a year for Tonga? Way overs IMO. Dogs fans should be happy to free up the extra cash i reckon. They'd have a fair amount to spend now so you should pick up a quality player or two.
 

The Colonel

Immortal
Messages
41,965
The Raiders are f**king up a decent finish this season by keeping him...... put Furner in charge, let him sort out who he wants and doesn't and kick the door shut on Henry, hitting him in the arse on the way out.
 

forward pass

Coach
Messages
10,209
Willie Tonga seems to think he is not worth a pinch of sh*t without Thurston inside him !!!


...........and I agree with him !
 

azza

Juniors
Messages
1,799
The Colonel said:
The Raiders are f**king up a decent finish this season by keeping him...... put Furner in charge, let him sort out who he wants and doesn't and kick the door shut on Henry, hitting him in the arse on the way out.

Agreed. Henry has treated the Raiders as poorly as any coach has treated their club in the history of Rugby League. Piss him off now for the sake of the Raiders.

Given the integrity the man has shown in the last few days I wish the Cowboys all the best with taking him on board. They're gonna need it.
 

Hanscholo

Bench
Messages
4,818
keeney said:
I suppose Tonga still has youth on his side. But what has he shown in the last 3 years that is worth a contract of that size?

Ive seen enough in him so far this year to think he can recapture his old form. He is taking on the line again with his footwork, which is great to see. Its a bit of a gamble in some respects, he has the ability and some nice form but id hate to see him blow his knee out again.
 

Hanscholo

Bench
Messages
4,818
yobbo84 said:
I still can't comprehend a contract of five years for a bloke who's greatest coaching achievement is taking the Raiders from 7th to 14th... rightio.

Agreed. The contract length smacks of desperation to me, if they didnt get Henry they would have looked like idiots. In saying that, im not sure they arent.
 

Noa

First Grade
Messages
9,029
Surely Henrys got to go close to winning the Lassie title at the end of the year.

When I heard him say he didnt lie to the Raiders I could picture Todd Carney going all Jules Winfield on him and saying "Yes you did Neill, yes you did, you f***ed us. And Todd Carney dont like being f***ed by anybody but Mrs Carney".
 

skeepe

Immortal
Messages
48,261
Noa Nandruku said:
Surely Henrys got to go close to winning the Lassie title at the end of the year.

When I heard him say he didnt lie to the Raiders I could picture Todd Carney going all Jules Winfield on him and saying "Yes you did Neill, yes you did, you f***ed us. And Todd Carney dont like being f***ed by anybody but Mrs Carney".

He used weasel words that any politician would be proud of. What he's saying is he told the players he wouldn't breach his contract, not that he wouldn't break it. He has broken the contract, but not breached it because of the get-out clause. Any reasonable person would have though he had said he was staying the distance when he said he wouldn't breach his contract.

I guess whatever helps him sleep at night. What a parasite.
 

Slackboy72

Coach
Messages
12,111
Gee it's funny how good raiders fans felt on Saturday night and how glum Dragons fans were. Four days later and how the tides have turned.
 

nqboy

First Grade
Messages
8,914
skeepe said:
He used weasel words that any politician would be proud of. What he's saying is he told the players he wouldn't breach his contract, not that he wouldn't break it. He has broken the contract, but not breached it because of the get-out clause. Any reasonable person would have though he had said he was staying the distance when he said he wouldn't breach his contract.

I guess whatever helps him sleep at night. What a parasite.
Fair call. While I'm happy to be getting Neil Henry as coach (I would've been happy to keep Muzz), I'm more wary of him now.
 

nickraider

Juniors
Messages
738
nqboy said:
Fair call. While I'm happy to be getting Neil Henry as coach (I would've been happy to keep Muzz), I'm more wary of him now.

You can have the dog mate. Good riddance to him :x
 

hrundi99

First Grade
Messages
8,414
Slackboy72 said:
Gee it's funny how good raiders fans felt on Saturday night and how glum Dragons fans were. Four days later and how the tides have turned.

2 points are 2 points.
 

Eels Dude

Coach
Messages
19,065
Why bloody sign a five year deal if you cannot even keep up a 3 year deal. He'll probably sign for Melbourne from 2010 on once Bellamy leaves.
 

Buckshot

Juniors
Messages
108
Eels Dude said:
Why bloody sign a five year deal if you cannot even keep up a 3 year deal. He'll probably sign for Melbourne from 2010 on once Bellamy leaves.


Because obviously he didn't want to stay at the raiders when the Cowboy's job came up.

It's not like he doesn't know what he's in for , he has already spent 4 years in Townsville.

Why would coaches want to stay when Canberra can't attract or retain players !
 

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