I agree with most people here. Bring him back, there's at least 2 years in the top grade, and a real future as a lower grade coach for 3-5 years after that. He has a bloody good football brain, and despite his 'knockabout' approach to life he is an incredibly intelligent bloke. Point is, he is already very well set up with many business contacts, so if the club doesn't sign him on as a coach, it will be our loss, not Deans.
Beyond his 40th birthday, I can see Dean being a damn fine NRL first grade coach.
And as for the people suggesting we'd be better off with some new guy at #9, consider these points:
1. We really don't have an established hooker. Bosnich did OK, but he's a bench/impact 2nd rower at best, he lacks the ability to read a game the way Dean does;
2. In Pat Gibson, we have a potentially very good hooker, but he is still very young and would benefit greatly from having a mentor like Dean helping him through;
3. A top-shelf NRL side MUST have at least 2 hookers to remain in the hunt all season. Injuries and bench rotations dictate this. Not many rakes (wasn't gonna use the word 'hooker' there! :shock: ) go 80 minutes each game, week in week out, anymore. Those that do it occasionally get away with it every now and then (Dean in 2002 semi), but no player in the comp is capable of putting in 100% 80 minute games all year at hooker in the modern era.
4. He's gonna cost us close to NOTHING. He's basically a freebie if we take him on for 2004. Whatever he gets will amount to pocket money. Now I ask you - When was the last time a bloke GENUINELY played for the love of his game and his club? Of course, the publicity machine and many sponsors will ensure that he is looked after (legitimately, within cap rules), so it may end up paying off.