Breaking News: David Furner Sacked by Raiders

rhugh89

rhugh89

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Canberra Raiders sack coach David Furner



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David Furner is in a battle to keep his job. Picture: Ray Strange Source: DailyTelegraph


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The Canberra Raiders have this afternoon sacked embattled coach David Furner.

Furner was told his services were no longer required by his brother, CEO Don Furner.

He finishes immediately and will not coach the Raiders side this weekend.Furner said he was shattered by the decision and the fact he has become the first coach in Raiders history to be sacked.

"It's obviously a results driven game and we have lost our last three game,'' he said. ``It's still terribly disappointing after all the work I've put in.''

Relations between the coach and leading players at the club, including much of the senior leader group, have deteriorated in recent weeks, coming to a head following the Raiders disappointing loss to Canterbury on Saturday afternoon.

It is understood the players held a private meeting last night where it was decided they could no longer believe they can work with Furner.It was the second gathering of players in days.

The first came following the Canterbury loss when Furner heard whispers there was dissatisfaction among the playing group.He called a meeting and asked players to air their grievances but, despite concerns they could no longer work with the coach, no complaints.

Furner then organised a short stay away for the players and himself in a bid to rebuild relations.Ironically, Furner is away with the players in Bateman’s Bay right now as the board meets over his future.

The crisis board meeting came after a second players meeting last night, involving nine senior players, was organised by the leader group.It is understood they told the board today they are struggling to work with the coach, prompting the current meeting.Canberra has never sacked a coach mid-contract.


From: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d-furner-at-risk/story-fni3gmmu-1226700735142
 
Wow would be even worse hearing the news from your own brother. Can't believe they've sacked him though. They have had an up and down season but no reason for this.
 
They've been crap for the majority of time, only making late runs from motivation to get to the finals. I think it's about time he got sacked.
 
He's lost so many players over the last few years, it's been obvious there's a massive problem. I think this is a few years too late though. They are in disarray.
 
I wonder if Dunneman is in the frame to coach for the rest of the season?
His work with our halves and his work with Canberra NYC side has been outstanding, as well as winning a qld cup with Stig as his halfback before that.
 
Billy said:
I wonder if Dunneman is in the frame to coach for the rest of the season?
His work with our halves and his work with Canberra NYC side has been outstanding, as well as winning a qld cup with Stig as his halfback before that.
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Dunneman has been appointed caretaker coach for the rest of the season
 
rhugh89 said:
Dunneman has been appointed caretaker coach for the rest of the season
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Good choice. Rick Stone's old assistant is very under rated IMO. I really think Mullo's kicking game, Scott Dureau's success in the ESL and the form of Roberts are all due to the work of Dunneman, not to mention the work he did with the Cowboys halves before he came to us and the great Canberra junior halves since he started working with them. His 13 years as a halfback in the NRL and ESL has made him the master coach for halves - not sure if he will do as good with the forwards.
 
Dunneman has had nothing to do with any of our FG halves. Lui wasn't here when he was, Morgan and Thompson were in 20's/FG and JT was obviously in FG.

He was only the coach for one of the feeder club sides in the Pride in which none of these guys never played for while he was coach.
 
cowboyman said:
Dunneman has had nothing to do with any of our FG halves. Lui wasn't here when he was, Morgan and Thompson were in 20's/FG and JT was obviously in FG.

He was only the coach for one of the feeder club sides in the Pride in which none of these guys never played for while he was coach.
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Dunneman got his job as halfback coach at Newcastle on the strength of the work he did with Ray Thompson and Ryan Stig at the Pride.
His first year at Newcastle he was running out on the field with a water bottle and actually calling plays. I have vivid memories of Scott Dureau kicking a 40/20 with Dunneman right behind him and Dunneman going off more than any of the players.
 
Billy said:
Dunneman got his job as halfback coach at Newcastle on the strength of the work he did with Ray Thompson and Ryan Stig at the Pride.
His first year at Newcastle he was running out on the field with a water bottle and actually calling plays. I have vivid memories of Scott Dureau kicking a 40/20 with Dunneman right behind him and Dunneman going off more than any of the players.
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I'm sorry but Dunemann had nothing to do with Thompson at all. He coached Stig yes but he didn't play any FG games for us.
 
cowboyman said:
I'm sorry but Dunemann had nothing to do with Thompson at all. He coached Stig yes but he didn't play any FG games for us.
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It's too long ago for me to remember clearly, but Dunneman lost the guy he spent a whole off season training up at the Pride because he did too good a job and the Cowboys took him. I thought it was Ray Thompson. Too long ago for me to remember clearly - but it did happen.
 
Wouldn't of been Ray Thompson. He went straight from NYC to the full time squad. Only thing that was ever holding him back was his recurring shoulder injuries.
 
Former Canberra fullback Gary Belcher slams Raiders sacking of David Furner as 'hypocritical'



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David Furner did it tough as Raiders coach. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: DailyTelegraph


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RAIDERS champion Gary Belcher has slammed the club’s decision to axe David Furner as "hypocritical" and raised concerns about player power.

Furner was dumped on Tuesday afternoon after a revolt led by senior players forced the board to act, calling time on their coach's five-year stint at the club after an extraordinary meeting was called.

The sacking comes at a time when the headlines have been dominated by talk that troubled Raiders centre Blake Ferguson was agitating for a release.

Furner and the Raiders have supported Ferguson throughout this season despite constant behavioural issues, which have led to two club-imposed suspensions.

It is understood that Furner's determination to keep Ferguson is one of the reasons senior players pushed to have their coach removed.Raiders CEO Don Furner, David's brother, last week told Fox Sports show NRL 360 that Ferguson would not be released by the club, whether or not a request was made, because he is a contracted player.

And it was this stance on the sanctity of a contract that made it difficult for Belcher to fathom Furner's axing.

"Yes it does seem hypocritical," Belcher told a League Central live blog on Tuesday afternoon, in response to a question on binding contracts.

"I'm very disappointed for Dave and I think he deserved better from a club that he's given his heart and soul to.



Read More:http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-as-hypocritical/story-fni3gmmu-1226700860256

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Sacked Canberra Raiders coach David Furner admits support for Blake Ferguson cost his job



DAVE Furner’s unwavering support for troubled centre Blake Ferguson cost him his coaching job at the Canberra Raiders on Tuesday.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Furner lost the dressing room as disgruntled players staged a revolt and fronted management over his reluctance to discipline the Origin centre over recent incidents.

And in a remarkable twist, it was revealed on Tuesday night night that Ferguson can now walk out on the Raiders because he has a get-out clause in his contract if Furner is not coaching.Furner said he was “shocked and devastated” after being informed by his brother, CEO Don Furner, that his contract had been terminated, effective immediately.

He was in camp at Bateman’s Bay, preparing for this weekend’s semi-final survival game against Manly, when the news came through.Furner became the first coach to be sacked in Canberra Raiders history, phoning The Daily Telegraph to break the news.

“They’ve just terminated my contract,” Furner said as he left the team camp to return to his family in Canberra.It has been a tough couple of years for Furner, whose wife Kellie has been bravely fighting breast cancer.“The board made the decision and it’s come as a real shock,” he said

“There’s a few things — my support for the young kid (Blake Ferguson) was one of the issues.“It’s a results driven game, but at the same time we’ve had our fair share of dramas.

“I was with the team trying to get them focused for the weekend when I got told.“I found out through my brother. I’m shocked and devastated.“But they make these decisions and coaches need results. We’ve lost three in a row. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Raiders management described it as “one of the saddest days in the club’s history” in a press release late Tuesday afternoon.Furner has been in charge since 2009 in Canberra and is the assistant Kangaroos coach to Tim Sheens.He coached 121 NRL games for 53 victories with a win percentage of only 43.8 per cent.

Furner’s sacking has opened the way for problem child Ferguson now to walk out on the club.In a bitter irony, Ferguson, who told those close to him last week that he wants a release, has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the club on one condition: if Furner is no longer coach.Nothing stands in the way of that now.

It highlights the frustrations within the senior playing group which were at the core of Furner’s demise.The senior playing group was frustrated at continually being forced to play second fiddle to the likes of Ferguson and former Raider Josh Dugan.The players believed their considerations were overlooked at their expense.

Trouble began to unfold when Furner heard whispers of a player revolt following the loss to Canterbury on Saturday.He approached assistant coach Andrew Dunemann, who confirmed the unrest.Furner then called the players into a meeting and asked them, point blank, if there were problems.

Conceding 124 points in the last three losses didn’t help.

The players denied any issues.

In a bid to iron out whatever unresolved issues existed, Furner organised a short break at holiday cove Bateman’s Bay.

Before leaving, though, nine of the club’s senior players held a private meeting on Monday night where it was decided to tell the board they no longer had faith in the coach.

Furner was in Bateman’s Bay on Tuesday, with the players, when the crisis board meeting was held and he was told he was sacked.The Raiders have appointed Furner’s assistant Dunemann as head coach for the remainder of the season.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...son-cost-his-job/story-fni3gmmu-1226700949128

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Canberra Raiders star Blake Ferguson admits disappointment over sacking of coach David Furner



BLAKE Ferguson on Tuesday night broke six weeks of silence to reveal his disappointment over the sacking of his coach and friend.

“Dave has been a wonderful support to me on and off the field,” Ferguson said.“My football has improved under his coaching. He’s been a very good coach for me.”

Asked about a get-out clause in his contract if Furner left, the State of Origin flyer refused to comment.“I’m not even thinking about next year,” he said.“We’ve got three games left and we can still make the finals.“It’s a great roster and if we do make the semis, we’ll surprise a few sides.”

He also refused to comment on his relationship with Canberra teammates.

Ferguson was not chosen in the Raiders side to play Manly but is hopeful of proving his fitness later in the week.He stayed in Canberra for rehab treatment on Tuesday while the rest of the players were in camp in Batemans Bay.

“All I’m thinking about is the next three weeks and the next three games,” he said.“There’s no point worrying about what might happen next year. I just want to get back onto the field.”


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ach-david-furner/story-fni3gmmu-1226700952981
 
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I hope fergo feels like **** for getting him sacked, I was actually starting to like fergo but if he is purposely trying to **** up to get sacked from the raiders so he can join another team, i really hope the nrl step in and deregister him altogether that would show him an stop him from getting his own way
 
It's poor form from the senior group that couldn't say anything to Furner's face but put the knife in him from behind.

What's Ferguson done to get him de-registered by the NRL... Can't use the excuse that his team mates don't like him and have done everything possible to get rid of him and the coach.
 
What I want to know is who is in this leadership group? My guess is Shillington has opened his mouth and the usuals Campese & McCrone.

Place is a rabble.
 
Alicia said:
What I want to know is who is in this leadership group? My guess is Shillington has opened his mouth and the usuals Campese & McCrone.

Place is a rabble.
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So would I and I'd be certain that those 3 are in it. Not much leadership in those 3 guys.

Shillington is the biggest punce I have seen on a league field, cannot stand the guy.
 
Yeh not much leadership down there. Willie Mason was right in what he said... They've let players like Carney, Dugan and Ferguson run the club the past 5 years.

They're losing or have lost in past two years:

- Joel Thompson
- Josh Dugan
- Sandor Earl
- Sam Williams
- Travis Waddell
- Trevor Thurling
- Michael Chee Kam

Likely:

- Blake Ferguson
- Anthony Milford

Almost lost Papalii.

Other senior players are Brett White, Tom Learoyd Lahrs (who is never on the field)

Bet Joel Edwards is loving life.

My question is where is all their salary cap going?
 
They definitely need a strong hand from their next coach. Could be a good job for Brian Smith, actually.

Furner's done very well to last as long as he has with a 44% winning record. 121 games!
 
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