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Raper awaiting the axe
By David Riccio
September 17, 2006
BESIEGED Sharks coach Stuart Raper fears he will be sacked, revealing the past month of turmoil has taken a heavy toll on his personal life.
As Cronulla officials prepare to deliver their verdict after an internal review, speculation mounts that Ricky Stuart will take over as coach for 2007.
"It's been a very hard time, the toughest in my time as a coach," Raper said. "No one likes to see your name in all the papers saying you're going to get the sack.
"There's nothing worse than your business being played out in the media.
"Whether or not there's any element of truth to it doesn't matter, it's still very tough to think that your job is on the line. "You're always in that situation where your job is under fire, but it doesn't make it any easier."
Raper said the Sharks' demise, which included a club-record 10 straight losses, had also affected his loved ones.
"It's certainly affected my family life. I'm not going to say it hasn't," Raper said.
"It's pretty hard when your kids go to school and their friends are saying your dad's a crap coach or he should be sacked and stuff like that. Those things I don't like. It gets personal.
"I haven't commented on this before because I didn't think there was any preface to me doing so ... but it's not easy, we're battling through it with fantastic support from my family and friends."
Raper is contracted to the Sharks for a further 12 months and remains committed to fulfilling his deal.
"I've got a contract for next year and my attitude is that I'll be coaching next year unless told otherwise," he said.
"I can't stop innuendo and rumours and I can't even stop backdoor dealing. All I can control is what I do for my job."
Raper was criticised for persisting with the halves pairing of Brett Kimmorley and Adam Dykes as the losses mounted, but he defended his decision.
"I look back and think it might have been an opportunity to change," Raper said. "But people have the benefit of hindsight and say, 'you lost and you should've done it (made changes)' and that's their prerogative ... but I stick by what I did."
Raper also scotched rumours that assistant coach Adrian Lam would take the top job at the Sharks.
"Adrian and I go back a bit and he's been very loyal to me throughout this year," Raper said. "In the past four or five weeks he's been terrific to me. He's got a contract to honour and he certainly wants to stay here. We are pretty close and believe we form a strong combination as coaches."
Raper declared he had unfinished business in the Shire and was desperate for an opportunity to turn around the club's fortunes next season.
"I've been coaching for a while now and I still believe I've got a reasonably good track record and would like to achieve a lot more.
"I believe we can turn things around."
By David Riccio
September 17, 2006
BESIEGED Sharks coach Stuart Raper fears he will be sacked, revealing the past month of turmoil has taken a heavy toll on his personal life.
As Cronulla officials prepare to deliver their verdict after an internal review, speculation mounts that Ricky Stuart will take over as coach for 2007.
"It's been a very hard time, the toughest in my time as a coach," Raper said. "No one likes to see your name in all the papers saying you're going to get the sack.
"There's nothing worse than your business being played out in the media.
"Whether or not there's any element of truth to it doesn't matter, it's still very tough to think that your job is on the line. "You're always in that situation where your job is under fire, but it doesn't make it any easier."
Raper said the Sharks' demise, which included a club-record 10 straight losses, had also affected his loved ones.
"It's certainly affected my family life. I'm not going to say it hasn't," Raper said.
"It's pretty hard when your kids go to school and their friends are saying your dad's a crap coach or he should be sacked and stuff like that. Those things I don't like. It gets personal.
"I haven't commented on this before because I didn't think there was any preface to me doing so ... but it's not easy, we're battling through it with fantastic support from my family and friends."
Raper is contracted to the Sharks for a further 12 months and remains committed to fulfilling his deal.
"I've got a contract for next year and my attitude is that I'll be coaching next year unless told otherwise," he said.
"I can't stop innuendo and rumours and I can't even stop backdoor dealing. All I can control is what I do for my job."
Raper was criticised for persisting with the halves pairing of Brett Kimmorley and Adam Dykes as the losses mounted, but he defended his decision.
"I look back and think it might have been an opportunity to change," Raper said. "But people have the benefit of hindsight and say, 'you lost and you should've done it (made changes)' and that's their prerogative ... but I stick by what I did."
Raper also scotched rumours that assistant coach Adrian Lam would take the top job at the Sharks.
"Adrian and I go back a bit and he's been very loyal to me throughout this year," Raper said. "In the past four or five weeks he's been terrific to me. He's got a contract to honour and he certainly wants to stay here. We are pretty close and believe we form a strong combination as coaches."
Raper declared he had unfinished business in the Shire and was desperate for an opportunity to turn around the club's fortunes next season.
"I've been coaching for a while now and I still believe I've got a reasonably good track record and would like to achieve a lot more.
"I believe we can turn things around."
