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Former Raiders coach Furner on Dragons coaching shortlist
Adrian Proszenko
August 22, 2020 — 2.07pm
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David Furner has emerged as a candidate for the vacant St George Illawarra coaching job as officials prepare a shortlist to replace long-time mentor Paul McGregor.
The Dragons began discussing the type of qualities they want from their next coach during a board meeting last week, with discipline and a strong defensive focus among the desired characteristics. Caretaker coach Dean Young is in the mix for the job on a full-time basis, his cause helped by a 28-24 win over Brisbane in his first game at the helm.
Young’s team has two winnable games coming up against the Titans and Cowboys, which could further boost his prospects if they keep their slim finals hopes alive.
At the pointy end of the Red V’s wishlist is Craig Fitzgibbon, the former Steelers and Dragons player who is now assisting Trent Robinson at the Roosters. The former NSW and Australian back-rower is considered the best credentialled of the options yet to hold a head coaching role, but has turned down all previous approaches and is expected to do so again because he wants to fulfil the final year of his contract.
While the Dragons are bracing for disappointment because of Fitzgibbon’s loyalty to Robinson and Nick Politis, they will still ask the question about his availability as part of their due diligence. Ditto Wayne Bennett, who has indicated he will see out the final year of his Rabbitohs contract before handing over to Jason Demetriou.
Other names on the Dragons list include Anthony Griffin, Kevin Walters, Laurie Daley and Furner. Current assistant Shane Flanagan would be a contender, but the NRL has indicated it will uphold his ban from head coaching positions next season. Former Cowboys coach Paul Green could also come into the mix, although it is believed he is watching events at Brisbane closely.
Furner, however, is an option the club is keen to explore. The former Kangaroos forward is one of the few potential candidates with NRL head coaching experience, having overseen 121 games at Canberra between 2009 and 2013 for a win percentage of 44 per cent.
The 49-year-old assisted Green when they won their inaugural premiership in 2015. He would have taken over as head coach at South Sydney, where he was an assistant, when Anthony Seibold left, but had already committed to Leeds.
Former Raiders coach David Furner is a person of interest to the Dragons.Credit:Jeffrey Chan
Now an assistant to Adam O’Brien at Newcastle, he will become a genuine contender for the Dragons job if it interests him.
The Dragons are expected to take between four and six weeks to make an appointment.
North Queensland is also working through the contenders for Green’s old job. Interim coach Josh Hannay, Warriors fill-in Todd Payten, John Carwright, Griffin and Shaun Wane are among the final candidates.
Already this season there have been four coaches sacked or "let go": McGregor, Dean Pay, Stephen Kearney and Green. Brisbane’s Anthony Seibold is no sure thing to make it to the end of the season despite having a further three years to run on his contract.
However, some clubs are moving to re-sign their clipboard holders to end speculation about their future. The Titans have opened negotiations to extend the tenure of Justin Holbrook, whose contract expires at the end of next season. Gold Coast head of culture Mal Meninga last month predicted Holbrook would be considered one of the NRL’s greatest coaches by the time his career has finished.
“Justin is a really good coach at the start of his career and, by the time he finishes, I believe he will be talked about as one of the better ones that has gone around in the NRL over history,” he told the Herald at the time.
And Cronulla have opened negotiations to keep John Morris beyond next year. Morris was under pressure after the Sharks won just one of their first five games to open the season, however, they are now likely to contest the finals, despite a disappointing 38-12 loss to the Panthers on Friday night.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/fo...agons-coaching-shortlist-20200822-p55oaj.html
No to Furner , what has he really done and been hanging around for a while
Anyway his impressive 44% win ratio will exclude him , that’s too successful for a STG CV
