NRL News: Cheika hires agent to sound out Souths, Gus cops huge fine after ‘our game is stupid’ rant
Michael Cheika has thrown his hat into the ring for the South Sydney job, engaging an Australian based agent to hep him land a job in the NRL. Sam Ayoub, the long-standing player manager, will be Cheika’s man on the ground with the coach based in Paris, but the man himself told the Sydney Morning […]
Michael Cheika has thrown his hat into the ring for the South Sydney job, engaging an Australian based agent to hep him land a job in the NRL.
Sam Ayoub, the long-standing player manager, will be Cheika’s man on the ground with the coach based in Paris, but the man himself told the Sydney Morning Herald that he was angling for a move home.
“Six weeks ago, I spoke to Sam about what I am going to do next,” said the former Wallabies coach.
“I’ve made that decision that I want to have a go at it and do it properly. But I didn’t want to kid myself.
“After speaking to Sam, it sounds like it’s worth having a proper go. For me, it’s not about competing for a position. It’s about doing it properly if an opportunity arises.”
‘Our game is stupid’ – Gus sanctioned over Koroisau rant
The NRL has slapped Phil Gould with a $20,000 fine over a TV rant, accusing the Canterbury supremo of launching a “destructive attack” on the game.
Unhappy with Gould labelling the game “stupid” on the Nine Network on Monday night, the NRL hit the Bulldogs general manager with a breach notice on Thursday.
Gould will be asked to pay $10,000 to head office, while another $10,000 will be suspended pending any further breaches in the next 12 months.
The former coach has long straddled his role as a club official at Penrith, the Warriors and Bulldogs with his job as a TV analyst.
Concerns from rival clubs around Gould’s comments prompted a meeting between himself and NRL bosses last year, but until this week he was yet to be fined.
But the NRL believe Gould crossed the line on Monday night in a discussion around the game’s rules.
“Our game is so stupid,” Gould said on 100% Footy on Monday night.
“You can lose the ball over the line scoring a try, right? And you get penalised 20 metres and seven tackles. Why? I don’t know, because it’s stupid.
“But I can just take a line dropout and if it goes out on the full or doesn’t go 10 metres, no consequence, nothing at all. What sort of stupid game is this?
“Who sits there and makes up these rules?
“Obstructors, oh he didn’t have his eyes on the ball and he bumped into him and he ran behind him. Obstruction.
“Api Koroisau’s (no) try (against Brisbane, what the hell was that? What the hell was that? … We are so stupid with our rules. Our game is stupid.”
The NRL on Thursday said the comments were detrimental to the best interests of the game.
“We welcome constructive criticism and passionate opinions,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.
“But registered officials cannot overstep the mark and make comments that are considered detrimental to the game or NRL competition.
“Destructive attacks on the game itself will not be tolerated.
“This is a professional sport and our leaders should set the standard around reasoned debate and respect for the game.”
Gould took to social media after being handed the breach notice to post “Rugby League … Its a funny game …” on X.
He has until next Thursday to decide whether to accept the fine or fight it.
Bunnies refocus goals after dismal start
Chief executive Blake Solly accepts South Sydney may miss the top eight this season, with history stacked against Ben Hornby in the fight to save the Rabbitohs’ faltering campaign.
Jason Demetriou’s axing on Tuesday has paved the way for St George Illawarra legend and long-time Souths assistant Hornby to take charge, commencing with Thursday’s clash against reigning premiers Penrith.
The Rabbitohs had considered appointing defence coach and ex-Canberra boss David Furner to the interim position but Hornby’s four-and-a-half years experience with the Rabbitohs won him the job.
Furner only joined the staff two weeks ago and will continue to assist Hornby.
The Rabbitohs have named Wayne Bennett their first-choice coaching target for 2025, with Solly virtually ruling Hornby out of contention by insisting the club was after an experienced mentor.
But Solly was keen to outline plans for Hornby when he approached the Dragons’ 2010 premiership captain with the current job offer on Tuesday night.
“There’s two or three really clear expectations for Ben,” Solly said. “We want to see improvement in terms of results and performances on the field.
“We want to give Ben and the coaching staff the time to develop some of our younger players who we’re starting to see come through.
“Hopefully guys like Jye (Gray), Tyrone (Munro) when he comes back from injury, and Peter (Mamouzelos) can play a lot more NRL football this year.
“We want Ben and the coaching staff and the players to hold themselves and carry themselves in a way that represents our club in the best possible way.” Management have opted against setting Hornby the lofty task of inspiring a finals berth; the Rabbitohs won only one of their first seven games this year and sit last on the ladder.
Moreover, interim coaches have historically struggled to lead their team to the play-offs.
In the NRL era, a coach has been installed in response to a mid-season departure on 41 occasions, but only three of those caretaker bosses have led their side to the finals.
Ben Hornby. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Even then, none of those three faced as lofty a task as Hornby; Penrith were already running fourth on the ladder when Cameron Ciraldo replaced Anthony Griffin late in 2018.
When Rick Stone took charge from Brian Smith at Newcastle in late 2009, the Knights were in ninth spot.
“We certainly think we can make something of the season, whether or not it results in a top-eight berth, I’m not sure,” Solly said. “But I know the character of this team, I know what they’re like and they’ll be up for the challenge.
“If we can get our players back on the field sooner rather than later, I think most teams will be concerned about playing us.
“If we can get to the top eight, that’d be wonderful, but really it’s about improvement over the next few weeks.”
NRL era interim coaches who made finals
Cameron Ciraldo – Penrith (6th place, 2018)
Rick Stone – Newcastle (7th place, 2009)
Jason Taylor – Parramatta (8th place, 2006)
with AAP
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