Tweet
Melbourne Storm assistant coach Stephen Kearney in Roosters frameMelbourne Storm assistant coach Stephen Kearney in Roosters frame
By Peter Badel, Chris Wilson and Josh Alston
June 21, 2009
Brad Fittler may be a dead man walking at Bondi with speculation mounting the embattled Sydney Roosters coach will be sacked in favour of Stephen Kearney.
After fining himself $10,000 for his drunken antics in Townsville on Friday, Fittler conceded his moment of madness, coupled with the Roosters' season from hell, has left him firmly in the firing line.
Roosters supremo Nick Politis now faces one of the toughest decisions of his long reign at Bondi - whether to sack a premiership-winning club legend regarded among his favourite sons.
Fittler remains determined to fight on but how long he survives will hinge on the Roosters' ability to salvage a campaign fast hurtling towards the wooden spoon.
Already the knives are out for Fittler, with rumours sweeping league circles that Storm assistant coach Kearney is being lined up to take the reins at Bondi in 2010.
Fittler was tightlipped about his future on Saturday. But he admitted the latest storm could represent the nail in his coaching coffin.
"Mate, I'm heading out to the Cowboys in a couple of hours, I'll worry about that," he said when asked about his future.
"This doesn't help - there's no doubt."
Politis refused to speculate on whether Fittler's position was safe but the former Test captain is the only NRL coach without a contract for next season.
A fortnight ago, Fittler was rocked by claims he had lost the support of senior players after giving Braith Anasta a fierce dressingroom spray.
Melbourne Storm players have already been talking that Kearney, their respected assistant coach, is locked in to be the Roosters coach in 2010.
It is also understood Kearney, the New Zealand Test coach, has already sounded out potential candidates to join him as an assistant should he secure an NRL head coaching role.
A Storm player contacted on Saturday confirmed the Melbourne playing group had heard a series of rumours about Kearney's coaching options.
"We've heard that Penrith and the Roosters are keen on him," the source said.
"Mooks (Kearney) is a brilliant coach and he's got what it takes to be an NRL coach.
"I don't know if he's definitely going to the Roosters but we've heard that. He's got other ambitions, he doesn't want to be an assistant coach forever."
Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said he wasn't happy with the club's position but refused to buy into the Fittler debate.
"Speculation in the media (about Fittler's future), obviously you guys aren't close to it," Noyce said.
"When you're this far away you're certainly not close to it.
"The reality is we're running last in the competition, I'm not happy about that, Brad's not happy about that, the players aren't happy about that.
"What we're going to do is focus on on-field performance and make sure we turn it around."
Noyce said Fittler's fine had sent a strong message to the playing group.
"The coach has fined himself a substantial amount of money and apologised," he said.
"I think that sends the message that this club is serious about this and that's the action we need to take.
"As I say it is a substantial amount of money in anyone's terms.
"I've spoken to David Gallop and he understands and accepts the decision that we've made.
"We've made that call and now we're going to get on with it."
By Peter Badel, Chris Wilson and Josh Alston
June 21, 2009
Brad Fittler may be a dead man walking at Bondi with speculation mounting the embattled Sydney Roosters coach will be sacked in favour of Stephen Kearney.
After fining himself $10,000 for his drunken antics in Townsville on Friday, Fittler conceded his moment of madness, coupled with the Roosters' season from hell, has left him firmly in the firing line.
Roosters supremo Nick Politis now faces one of the toughest decisions of his long reign at Bondi - whether to sack a premiership-winning club legend regarded among his favourite sons.
Fittler remains determined to fight on but how long he survives will hinge on the Roosters' ability to salvage a campaign fast hurtling towards the wooden spoon.
Already the knives are out for Fittler, with rumours sweeping league circles that Storm assistant coach Kearney is being lined up to take the reins at Bondi in 2010.
Fittler was tightlipped about his future on Saturday. But he admitted the latest storm could represent the nail in his coaching coffin.
"Mate, I'm heading out to the Cowboys in a couple of hours, I'll worry about that," he said when asked about his future.
"This doesn't help - there's no doubt."
Politis refused to speculate on whether Fittler's position was safe but the former Test captain is the only NRL coach without a contract for next season.
A fortnight ago, Fittler was rocked by claims he had lost the support of senior players after giving Braith Anasta a fierce dressingroom spray.
Melbourne Storm players have already been talking that Kearney, their respected assistant coach, is locked in to be the Roosters coach in 2010.
It is also understood Kearney, the New Zealand Test coach, has already sounded out potential candidates to join him as an assistant should he secure an NRL head coaching role.
A Storm player contacted on Saturday confirmed the Melbourne playing group had heard a series of rumours about Kearney's coaching options.
"We've heard that Penrith and the Roosters are keen on him," the source said.
"Mooks (Kearney) is a brilliant coach and he's got what it takes to be an NRL coach.
"I don't know if he's definitely going to the Roosters but we've heard that. He's got other ambitions, he doesn't want to be an assistant coach forever."
Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce said he wasn't happy with the club's position but refused to buy into the Fittler debate.
"Speculation in the media (about Fittler's future), obviously you guys aren't close to it," Noyce said.
"When you're this far away you're certainly not close to it.
"The reality is we're running last in the competition, I'm not happy about that, Brad's not happy about that, the players aren't happy about that.
"What we're going to do is focus on on-field performance and make sure we turn it around."
Noyce said Fittler's fine had sent a strong message to the playing group.
"The coach has fined himself a substantial amount of money and apologised," he said.
"I think that sends the message that this club is serious about this and that's the action we need to take.
"As I say it is a substantial amount of money in anyone's terms.
"I've spoken to David Gallop and he understands and accepts the decision that we've made.
"We've made that call and now we're going to get on with it."
Comment