August 2, 2005
CRONULLA coach Stuart Raper has offered a release to any player unhappy with his coaching methods.
Raper made the startling offer after saying he plans to be around far longer than any disgruntled player, revealing he has two years more to run on his contract.
"If someone has a major issue they will be offered a release," he said last night, in his only interview.
Raper, who disputes the claim that players are unhappy at the club, is so confident in his appeal as a coach that he does not believe any player will take up the offer for a release.
"Whoever this person is, he won't have the guts to put his hand up," he said.
"If he did say it to you it has not affected me.
"It is what they have done to their teammates, how they have let their teammates down by airing their opinions in public."
The Sharks are just one club under pressure as the looming finals series raises the pressure on all NRL clubs.
Manly also embroiled themselves in controversy yesterday when coach Des Hasler instigated a high-powered meeting to prevent majority owner Max Delmege from interfering in football operations.
Hasler was concerned that Delmege had nosed in on recent football issues such as John Hopoate's possible comeback and the re-signing of Michael Monaghan.
Raper spent yesterday investigating claims that players were unhappy with aspects of his coaching, which came to light after a senior players' meeting last Tuesday.
After speaking with those senior players Raper insisted they were not unhappy with him, he was not unhappy with them, and that the problem was elsewhere.
"I am unhappy with the way this has been reported," Raper said. "I am not unhappy with the players. I have talked to the players and they have got no issues, but if they have got issues then they are the best liars I have ever seen."
Raper said his players were often consulted on football issues, such as game plans and training sessions.
"Your players are often your best assistant coaches," he said.
"But at the end of the day the players have got to understand they can put in their own points of view but there is a bigger picture that we have got to think about. Players will always have opinions on the way the game should be played."
Regarding criticisms of his game plans, Raper said other matters needed to be taken care of first.
"Game plans are great but when you are dropping balls and missing tackles there is no use having any game plan," he said. "When players can start catching balls and making tackles, that's when you want a game plan."
Daily Telegraph, 02/08/04
Does anyone believe players are ready to walk out on the club based on Rapers coaching?
