Our next head coach

Who should be the head coach in 2026?

  • Blake Green

    Votes: 5 5.9%

  • Brian McDermott

    Votes: 14 16.5%

  • Brad Arthur

    Votes: 13 15.3%

  • Willie Peters

    Votes: 40 47.1%

  • John Morris

    Votes: 18 21.2%

  • Justin Holbrook

    Votes: 42 49.4%

  • Des Hasler

    Votes: 1 1.2%

  • Sam Burgess

    Votes: 1 1.2%

  • Billy Slater

    Votes: 6 7.1%

  • Other (name below)

    Votes: 1 1.2%
  • Total voters
    85
Problem there is coaches come in saying no need for a rebuild, happy with the squad, then when they aren't getting results start the not my squad stuff, need this or that player to be competitive etc.

The club then buys in to this promise of immediate success and goes with the coach that glows the club up the most.

If the new coach and the club are working together towards a common goal, no reason a shorter term contract can't be the way to go, with both parties knowing the view is to extend if the trajectory is as expected.

This is how I see it.
 
Do you need to be a head coach before taking on that role elsewhere?
For most candidates it may be the case.
Except Michael Hagan had the right mix of skills - minimum ego, good man manager, good grasp on skills and techniques and had played at high level with distinction.
He won a comp in first year, albeit with the bones of a team that should have won two more comps.
But it was his natural approach, credibility and connection to the players that was enough to go that one incredibly difficult step forward into a grand final. Then win it. It’s all about the man. Always has been.
Even though, it was only by fluke that Hagen took over - supported by the players.
The burning question is does any coach appointment committee from wests have the necessary insights to make the smart move? Not sure?
 
Kurriboy said:
Problem there is coaches come in saying no need for a rebuild, happy with the squad, then when they aren't getting results start the not my squad stuff, need this or that player to be competitive etc.

The club then buys in to this promise of immediate success and goes with the coach that glows the club up the most.

If the new coach and the club are working together towards a common goal, no reason a shorter term contract can't be the way to go, with both parties knowing the view is to extend if the trajectory is as expected.

This is how I see it.
Click to expand...

What is a new coach meant to say ? "These blokes all need punting" not a great thing to publicly say. The thing to do is back your squad and your coaching ability while doing whatever needs to be done internally.
 
Holbrook for mine, with McDermott and Green as assistants.
I thought Holbrook did a good job with the Titans, he’s had more experience now at the Roosters, and has the advantage of having played first grade for the Knights, being mentored by Joey and filling in pretty well for him when injured. He would have a pretty good idea of what the club is ( or was ) about, culture wise.

I know any improvement is not going to happen immediately, and we are in for more short term pain, but when the pieces start to fall into place with juniors and pathways we should start to see the benefits in 12 to 18 months
 
I think I'm nearly set on our coaching staff looking something like this:

Head Coach: Justin Holbrook/Willie Peters
Defensive/Assistant Coach: Brian McDermott
Attacking/Assistant Coach: James Maloney
Halves/Kicking Consultant: Blake Green
Specialists: Any ex players that want a part time role at the club or that are already involved probably around 3 of them: Budsy, Sione, Maddog, Bill Peden, Steve Simpson, either Gidley - just a few ideas.

The dogs have a similar role that just links to past glory with the present to help set standard and instil toughness back in the jersey, I think Willie Mason, James Graham and Josh Reynolds are some of the blokes involved.
 
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Coach: Holbrook/Morris
Attacking Coach: James Maloney
Defence Coach: McDermott
Halves/Kicking Coach: Jarrod Mullen

Specialist Coaches: Buderus, K Gidley, Tahu and Simpson.

Would've considered the Johns bros but get the feeling they're not interested. Matty busy with his media/podcasts and Joey not able to travel alone due to his medical condition.
 
I agree with the sentiment that they really must see something in Green. And I’ll accept that I don’t see behind the scenes so don’t feel qualified to comment. But, from a very superficial perspective most go down the path of:

Who’s the favourite?
Green.
Where’s he now?
Knights attack coach.
Attack coach? Responsible for the worst attack by 110 points?
Yep.
Oh. Right…

Was listening to 167 podcast (paps, Munster, Hughes) and they touched on how hands on all their assistants are and how the head coach is fast approaching a “manager” role where they just oversee everything and man manage.

By all accounts Green has a great relationship with the players, presumably can get along with other staff as he seems to have impressed them. So maybe we are backing him to be able to put together a good coaching staff and work together and be a man managing type of coach.

I’m a bit unsure of Tooheys/doyle comments.
I don’t think you can point to Young and Marzhew’s try scoring 2-5 years ago to support Greens attack coach skills while disregarding our horrible attack this year from the argument.

Anyway. I’m not overly fussed as I don’t think there is a clear ‘great candidate’. Will give whoever we choose a fair crack. But I agree with most that 2 years grace to implement your style, time to adapt and realise what’s needed, and if there’s no results/improvement by year 3, I hope we learn our lesson.
 
frankLauda said:
With Webster, Ciraldo, Ryles, Fitz, all assistant coach’s. Does anyone know, did any of them have prior coaching experience?
Click to expand...
Lets not pretend these guys had the same apprenticeship as Green c'monnn...

Webster - Hull KR (ast. 5 years), Tigers (2 years in system, ast. 3 years + 2 games head coach) & Panthers (ast. 3 years + 1 game head coach).
Ciraldo - Panthers (ast. 9 years + 7 games head coach) & Italy Rugby League (head coach 1 year WC).
Ryles - Storm (ast. 5 years), Eng. Rugby (skills coach 1 year), Roosters (ast. 1 year + 1 game head coach) & Rugby Australia (ast. 1 WC year).
Fitzgibbon - Roosters (ast. 11 years) & Country NSW (head coach 2 years).
 
Ciraldo coached junior teams and also NSW junior sides and got a reputation as a winning coach and a great development coach long before he got to firstgrade.
O'Brien never coached a side before he started at the Knights - always a firstgrade assistant.

I don't know about those other guys, but Ciraldo seemed to almost never lose a game with lower grade sides - probably helped he was at Penrith.
 
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