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FORMER Manly coach Peter Sharp has spoke for the first time about why he wants to return to Australia and his impending appointment as Brad Fittler's coaching director at the embattled Roosters.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Sharp - the defensive coach with Irish rugby union club Ulster - confirmed he met this week with Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce and coach Brad Fittler.
The coaching situation at the Roosters remains unclear. It is likely Fittler will survive but have Sharp come over the top as coaching director for 2010. But a continuation of the club's horror results would see Fittler under heavy pressure to remain in charge.
Sharp, who also coached the Northern Eagles, denied the Roosters offered him any position but did say: "I am keen to come home. Very keen. It would be a tremendous job at the Roosters, a great job in a great club.
"I see it as a decent role. But I haven't been offered anything yet. I had a chat to Steve and had a chat to Freddy. It was all good. I'd love to work with Freddy. We will touch base again. We'll wait and see.''
The only problem for Sharp is that he cannot come home immediately and would only be able to return to Australia for next season. Whether that hurts his chances of joining the club remains unclear.
"I have family obligations over there for a couple of months,'' Sharp said. "That was one of the conditions. I can't do it at the moment. That was my opening sentence. I didn't want to lead them up the garden path. I couldn't get back until September so we are more talking about next year. I said I couldn't come to help immediately.
"But I'm definitely interested going forward. It's in Australia and I want to live in Australia. The NRL is a great competition, despite the difficulties it has from time to time. It's the pinnacle.''
There was speculation, although unconfirmed, the Roosters actually paid for Sharp to return home. "We had a chat to see where he was up to,'' Noyce said. "He had a contract to go back to the UK. That was cool.''
Sharp was an assistant coach at Parramatta, Newcastle and Melbourne. He signed with Hull FC in 2006 on a 2-year deal but was replaced mid-contract by John Kear. The Roosters play in-form Gold Coast this weekend at the SFS.
THE Roosters last night denied speculation Arthur Beetson would quit as Fittler's assistant. Beetson is in Queensland on business but will return to the Roosters this weekend.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Sharp - the defensive coach with Irish rugby union club Ulster - confirmed he met this week with Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce and coach Brad Fittler.
The coaching situation at the Roosters remains unclear. It is likely Fittler will survive but have Sharp come over the top as coaching director for 2010. But a continuation of the club's horror results would see Fittler under heavy pressure to remain in charge.
Sharp, who also coached the Northern Eagles, denied the Roosters offered him any position but did say: "I am keen to come home. Very keen. It would be a tremendous job at the Roosters, a great job in a great club.
"I see it as a decent role. But I haven't been offered anything yet. I had a chat to Steve and had a chat to Freddy. It was all good. I'd love to work with Freddy. We will touch base again. We'll wait and see.''
The only problem for Sharp is that he cannot come home immediately and would only be able to return to Australia for next season. Whether that hurts his chances of joining the club remains unclear.
"I have family obligations over there for a couple of months,'' Sharp said. "That was one of the conditions. I can't do it at the moment. That was my opening sentence. I didn't want to lead them up the garden path. I couldn't get back until September so we are more talking about next year. I said I couldn't come to help immediately.
"But I'm definitely interested going forward. It's in Australia and I want to live in Australia. The NRL is a great competition, despite the difficulties it has from time to time. It's the pinnacle.''
There was speculation, although unconfirmed, the Roosters actually paid for Sharp to return home. "We had a chat to see where he was up to,'' Noyce said. "He had a contract to go back to the UK. That was cool.''
Sharp was an assistant coach at Parramatta, Newcastle and Melbourne. He signed with Hull FC in 2006 on a 2-year deal but was replaced mid-contract by John Kear. The Roosters play in-form Gold Coast this weekend at the SFS.
THE Roosters last night denied speculation Arthur Beetson would quit as Fittler's assistant. Beetson is in Queensland on business but will return to the Roosters this weekend.
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