DeeGan
26-01-06, 10:41 AM
NRL: Sharp the favourite as Knights begin search
By Greg Prichard
January 26, 2006
NEWCASTLE could appoint their coach for next year within weeks after a board meeting last night began the process to find Michael Hagan's successor.
The Knights recently decided not to re-sign Hagan when his contract runs out at the end of this season and he subsequently signed a contract to coach Parramatta from next year.
Newcastle chief executive Ken Conway said after last night's board meeting that criteria for the decision on a new coach had been established and that prime applicants would now be considered.
Peter Sharp, an assistant coach to Brian Smith at the Eels, remains the favourite for the job, but it is clear Newcastle will also seriously consider other contenders.
"We've had plenty of coaches approach us about the job," Conway said. "We'll start the process now. It might take two weeks or it might take two months, but we'll go through the process and make sure we get the right man."
Meanwhile, Brisbane hooker Barry Berrigan's career may be over after he suffered a second major neck injury. Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said last night Berrigan would next week get the results of tests on his neck.
Berrigan had fusion surgery on his neck in 2004 and made a comeback last season but he has recently been experiencing pain again. Cullen said a specialist had told Berrigan the problem was not a recurrence of the old injury but a new problem.
"It's a similar injury, but in a different spot," Cullen said. "It's a situation where the vertebrae gets out of line and starts pinching the nerve. Barry has already had one operation similar to the one [former Brisbane star] Gorden Tallis came back from, but if he had to have a second operation, then that's a different story.
"It could be that after a second operation Barry could risk permanent damage by playing again and I don't think that's the sort of risk anyone would like to take. Barry's pretty upset at the moment. He's just hoping for the best and so are we. We'll know more next week."
Brisbane signed former St George Illawarra and Newcastle hooker Michael Ennis at the end of last season, but Berrigan, as the incumbent, was expected to get first crack at the job this season.
Now it seems that the signing of Ennis will become even more important to the Broncos because of Berrigan's misfortune.
And St George Illawarra five-eighth Trent Barrett's future should become clearer after the player's manager, Wayne Beavis, meets Dragons chief executive Peter Doust tomorrow.
Barrett has a clause in his contract allowing him an early release at the end of this season if he chooses to play in England, and Wigan are interested.
"I haven't had the chance to sit down with Peter because of the holiday period, but I'll be doing the courtesy of meeting with him on Friday to discuss Trent's situation," Beavis said last night.
"No decisions have been made about anything. [Wigan boss] Maurice Lindsay asked me how interested Trent would be if the terms were right and that is as far as it has gone.
"Trent has got an open mind on the whole thing. He is happy to see what Wigan have to offer and if discussions were going to go any further with Wigan I would keep Peter informed."
* Peter Sharp will be the Newcastle Knights coach IMO.
* Berrigan should retire, no point in messing with a neck injury for mine though I wish him the best in getting past the injury.
* Trent Barrett will leave for Wigan as the Dragons would take the one big loss to ensure the signing of the likes of Gasnier and Cooper.
DeeGan
By Greg Prichard
January 26, 2006
NEWCASTLE could appoint their coach for next year within weeks after a board meeting last night began the process to find Michael Hagan's successor.
The Knights recently decided not to re-sign Hagan when his contract runs out at the end of this season and he subsequently signed a contract to coach Parramatta from next year.
Newcastle chief executive Ken Conway said after last night's board meeting that criteria for the decision on a new coach had been established and that prime applicants would now be considered.
Peter Sharp, an assistant coach to Brian Smith at the Eels, remains the favourite for the job, but it is clear Newcastle will also seriously consider other contenders.
"We've had plenty of coaches approach us about the job," Conway said. "We'll start the process now. It might take two weeks or it might take two months, but we'll go through the process and make sure we get the right man."
Meanwhile, Brisbane hooker Barry Berrigan's career may be over after he suffered a second major neck injury. Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said last night Berrigan would next week get the results of tests on his neck.
Berrigan had fusion surgery on his neck in 2004 and made a comeback last season but he has recently been experiencing pain again. Cullen said a specialist had told Berrigan the problem was not a recurrence of the old injury but a new problem.
"It's a similar injury, but in a different spot," Cullen said. "It's a situation where the vertebrae gets out of line and starts pinching the nerve. Barry has already had one operation similar to the one [former Brisbane star] Gorden Tallis came back from, but if he had to have a second operation, then that's a different story.
"It could be that after a second operation Barry could risk permanent damage by playing again and I don't think that's the sort of risk anyone would like to take. Barry's pretty upset at the moment. He's just hoping for the best and so are we. We'll know more next week."
Brisbane signed former St George Illawarra and Newcastle hooker Michael Ennis at the end of last season, but Berrigan, as the incumbent, was expected to get first crack at the job this season.
Now it seems that the signing of Ennis will become even more important to the Broncos because of Berrigan's misfortune.
And St George Illawarra five-eighth Trent Barrett's future should become clearer after the player's manager, Wayne Beavis, meets Dragons chief executive Peter Doust tomorrow.
Barrett has a clause in his contract allowing him an early release at the end of this season if he chooses to play in England, and Wigan are interested.
"I haven't had the chance to sit down with Peter because of the holiday period, but I'll be doing the courtesy of meeting with him on Friday to discuss Trent's situation," Beavis said last night.
"No decisions have been made about anything. [Wigan boss] Maurice Lindsay asked me how interested Trent would be if the terms were right and that is as far as it has gone.
"Trent has got an open mind on the whole thing. He is happy to see what Wigan have to offer and if discussions were going to go any further with Wigan I would keep Peter informed."
* Peter Sharp will be the Newcastle Knights coach IMO.
* Berrigan should retire, no point in messing with a neck injury for mine though I wish him the best in getting past the injury.
* Trent Barrett will leave for Wigan as the Dragons would take the one big loss to ensure the signing of the likes of Gasnier and Cooper.
DeeGan