No big deal about coaches on the move
Written by:
Kalon Huett
Jul 22, 2009 12:02am
The perennial pandemonium over coaching positions is nothing more than making a mountain out of a molehill; it's a storm in a teacup; an overreaction bigger than Phil Gould's ego. Coaches breaking contracts and clubs sacking coaches are always hot topics. And yes it's true that the NRL usually has more coaches moving around the country than
Greyhound this time of year. But what's the big deal? $2.4million over four years I hear you say. Fair point. But whats the big deal apart from that?
I for one am tired of caring. It's a bit like
Home and Away the characters might change over the years but it's the same old regurgitated stories. Seen it once, seen it a hundred times. Unlike the popular soapie, however, it's the newer, younger and sexier stars that are struggling to establish themselves in the NRL big time.
First there was Nathan Brown, who was barely old enough to drink when he took over the Dragons. Now theres Brad Freddie Fittler, who clearly still loves a drink. Ivan Cleary might be next. Or David Furner - did I say sexier? Younger anyway. Its a coaching merry-go-round and the ride never ends. We cant seem to move forward - it must be how Michael Hancock always felt as he crabbed across field.
In the latest installment Brian Smith asked the Knights for an early release from the final year of his contract to join the Roosters in 2010. Why? Because they were offering him the security of a four-year deal. The Knights couldn't match the offer and agreed to the request. Then a huge conflict erupted in Newcastle when... oh wait, no that's about all that happened actually. Now lets prepare ourselves to be bashed over the head with this story for the next few seasons.
So Smith is off to less greener pastures, which is just the way he likes it. The Knights can search for their new long-term coach, which is just what they wanted to do. The Roosters got their man, which is just about fair enough considering what the fickle Wayne Bennett did to them. And Fittler can get drunk without having to fine himself ten grand, which is
just as far as Im concerned.
Incidentally feeling 'secure' at the Roosters because they offered you a contract is akin to feeling secure at the airport because they make everybody put their toiletries in a little see-through bag. Blind Freddie could see the ever-present danger. Unless, of course, he was too blind to even find his own room.
Businessman Smith will now attempt to clean up loyal Brads mess after the latter managed to take a squad full of representative players and whip them into something softer than a Bondi cafe sorbet. Unfortunately these beach boys tend to prefer strawberry daiquiris to strawberry ice cream, and big nights to big hits. No doubt Fittler will have the last laugh, however, when Smith either walks out on the Roosters or is sacked within four years. Bookmakers will let you write your own ticket on neither of those events taking place. And so the tedious cycle will continue. Even
Home and Away might come up with something new.
One way to put an end to all the controversy would be to implement an NRL coachs draft. The premiership-winning coach would swap clubs in the off-season with the coach that won the wooden spoon, and so on and so forth down the table. This would happen every year and ensure coaching excellence and success was shared evenly throughout the competition. Much the same way as the salary cap has helped spread the player talent around all sixteen clubs. Its an NRL wet dream.
Who would get lucky and pick up Bennett? Who would be reduced to tears at the sight of Jason Taylor turning up for training? The possibilities are endless. (Well, not really, but there certainly are a lot of them.) Let the spoils and toils be shared around. The coach swap would be like an episode of
Wife Swap that lasts a whole year.
That would be real drama.
That would be a big deal.
