So, we’re at the halfway mark of the 2022 NRL season. Some clubs have exceeded expectations, while others are struggling to find their best form. We’ve already seen one coach and club part company, but how safe are the rest?
Firstly, let me say that I don’t particularly like the idea of anyone losing their job. Especially a coach who isn’t missing tackles or dropping passes. However, the old adage in rugby league is there are two types of coaches: those sacked, and those waiting to be sacked. Of course these days, there’s a third category: Craig Bellamy.
So, how are they faring…let’s take a look at the competition table from top to bottom…
PENRITH - Ivan Cleary
Runners up in 2020, Premiers in 2021, and twelve wins from thirteen games in 2022. I think it’s safe to say that Ivan Cleary is much safer in his second stint at the Panthers than he was at his first. Penrith are humming along as they enter Origin period, and will go close to winning another title. Cleary isn’t going anywhere unless it is of his own volition.
MELBOURNE - Craig Bellamy
With a long term contract already inked, Craig Bellamy will be at the Storm as long as he wants to be. He is looking for his 10th Grand Final with the club; and Melbourne are on track as they sit in second place.
NORTH QUEENSLAND - Todd Payten
The surprise packet of the season, North Queensland sit in third spot at the midway point, when me pundits thought they’d be at the other end of the ladder. Todd Payten has done a wonderful job of forging together a tough pack of forwards which lets the talents of the backline shine. It’s taken a while, but Payten looks like a long term NRL coach now.
BRISBANE - Kevin Walters
Brisbane were always going to improve this year in Kevin Walters’ second season, but WOW! Top four going into Origin must have their fans doing handstands. Sewyn Cobbo and Patrick Carrigan have become Origin players under Walters’ coaching, and the Kevolution looks like returning Brisbane to where they assumed they’d always belong - finals bound. Walters looks like the long term coach at the Broncos.
PARRAMATTA - Brad Arthur
Is this another familiar story at the Eels? They seem to have trouble cracking the ceiling that takes them from a premiership contender to a Grand Final appearance. Mitch Moses and Ryan Matterson are playing better than ever, while Reagan Campbell-Gillard is back to his best. The Eels can beat anyone on their day, but it is now up to Brad Arthur to get them psychologically prepared for the finals. Arthur has been at Parramatta a long time now, and has brought a level of success to the club that several previous coaches have struggled to do. I wonder how long fans can wait for that elusive first premiership since 1986 though. Arthur still looks relative safe.
CRONULLA - Craig Fitzgibbon
Cronulla’s rookie coach Craig Fitzgibbon is of course anything but. After a long apprenticeship, Fitzgibbon’s role at the Sharks this year is his first as a head coach, and he has the club ticking along nicely. They’re still a couple of top quality players away from a serious shot at the premiership, but if I was a Cronulla fan I’d be very happy with my team’s new coach.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS - Trent Robinson
Now in his tenth season with Sydney Roosters, Trent Robinson should have bought himself some immunity after guiding the club to three titles, as well as getting the club to within a win of the top four in 2021 after a horrific injury riddles season. Robinson reminds me of Bart Cummings. He always seems to get the Roosters humming at the right time, regardless of where they are in the middle of the season. I still think the Roosters can give this competition a major shake. Robinson is as safe as anyone.
SOUTH SYDNEY - Jason Demetriou
News out of the Rabbitohs’ camp is they aren’t blaming the loss of Adam Reynolds on their indifferent form at the start of the season. I don’t think they’re fooling anyone. Just look at how the Reynolds’ led Broncos side is travelling. Also, rookie coach Jason Demetriou has giant boots to fill after Wayne Bennett moved back to Queensland. In saying that, they’re still in the top eight, but it’s a drop from the heights of the 2021 Grand Final. I expect the Bunnies to give Demetriou at least another season to stamp his mark at Redfern; however if they miss the finals, that could change.
ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA - Anthony Griffin
Like Brad Arthur at Parramatta, Anthony Griffin has a great record of getting teams into the finals, but not much more. He seems like he is still searching for the best combination at the Dragons, but they are probably going better than expected at the halfway point. Still, t’s now twelve years since St George-Illawarra won the Grand Final, and their fans are used to success. I expect Griffin will be given the chance to nurture some the great younger players coming into first grade.
MANLY - Des Hasler
After going within a win of the 2021 Grand Final, Manly were expected to be a major threat this year. Yet, other teams seemed to have worked out the Sea Eagles’ attack this year, and that was before Tom Trbojevic was ruled out for the year with injury. Manly seem a bit hold and cold at the halfway mark, but they still have one of the great captains in Daly Cherry-Evans, and a bunch of exciting young players. After what happened in the seasons immediately before the return of Hasler to the club, I expect Manly won’t make the mistake of parting ways with him again any time soon.
CANBERRA - Ricky Stuart
Some clubs just need a coach who knows the culture of the club. Like Des Hasler at Manly, Ricky Stuart bleeds his club’s colours, and has as much passion as any coach in the game. After a shaky start, the Raiders are starting to look the goods, and should press for a spot in the finals. The club could use the experience of the injured Jarrod Croker, but otherwise Stuart looks to have settled on a combination that works.
NEWCASTLE - Adam O’Brien
The Knights were expected to feature in the finals this year, and still may. However, their early season form would be a disappointment to their fans. The changing of the halves combination shows just how much they are missing Mitchell Pearce. Adam O’Brien is no longer a rookie coach, and needs to get his key players firing. Kayln Ponga seemed distracted earlier in the year, and O’Brien must be hoping Origin refreshes his star player. If the Knights finish in the bottom four, I think O’Brien may find himself under some pressure.
WARRIORS - Nathan Brown
Firstly, let’s just acknowledge the difficult time the Warriors have had since the outbreak of COVID. Unable to play at home, they have endured more hardship than perhaps any other NRL club over the last three seasons. It’s now eleven seasons since the Warriors made a Grand Final (under the coaching of Ivan Cleary), and fans must be wondering where their first title is coming from. They looked very ordinary against Manly this week, and Nathan Brown seemed lost for answers in his press conference. That can’t be a good sign for a coach who has struggled with other clubs in the past, but in Brown’s defence, the Warriors don’t have the roster of some other clubs.
WESTS TIGERS - Michael Maguire
News reports suggest that Michael Maguire was fortunate to coach Wests Tigers into the 2022 season at all. Yet, for about a month, it seemed the Tigers were starting to come good, especially as the combination of Luke Brooks and Jackson Hastings gained experience and confidence. However, midway through the season they are in fourteenth place, and are about to undertake the dreaded mid-season review. Hopefully, Maguire at least gets the chance to see what he can do when start player Adam Doueihi returns from injury in the coming weeks.
GOLD COAST - Justin Holbrook
After making the finals in 2021, this season held so much promise for Gold Coast. Yet, the Titans have won just three games in 2022 despite a forward pack full of Origin stars and a promising number of backs. Since the departure of John Cartwright, the Titans haven’t shown a lot of patience in their coaches, and if Gold Coast don’t improve soon the writing may well be on the wall for Holbrook.
CANTERBURY - Mick Potter
Well, we all know Mick Potter is probably not the long term coaching solution the Bulldogs have in mind. A club legend who won two titles at Canterbury, Potter was the answer to the question of what happens after Trent Barrett and the Bulldogs parted ways earlier this year. He can certainly help restore some of the culture that saw Canterbury win premierships under the coaching of ex-players such as Steve Folkes, Chris Anderson and Phil Gould. Hopefully, whoever gets the top job in 2023, Potter will continue to be a part of the Bulldogs’ coaching staff.