Which is why I feel it is important we also bring in a competent assistant to work alongside the new Coach. I think Huddersfield have the right idea with Anderson working alongside Nathan Brown. If Brown DOES leave then they have somebody ready to step into the hot seat. For the last few years if our HC left we'd be up poop creak. Neither you or I know what budgets we have to work with although I expect probably a little less than the Giants, but that should be the plan IMO.

For what it is worth I think McDermott is the best contender mentioned so far who is already working in this country. Could we get better from overseas? Almost certainly. Whether we can get better for the money we have available is impossible to say.

Is there an Aussie/NZ coach who does not fit into that mould? I can't think of one. Smith/Wire & McLemon/Leeds are no doubt on far more than they would earn elsewhere. Brian Smith & Elliott certainly came hereto establish their reputations.

Only those not good enough to get a top-flight job back in Oz/NZ, or those who genuinely want to settle here?

Which is my point - you recruit a decent/promising Aussie/NZ coach for a reason - to get success in the shorter term, and perhaps to pass on what he knows to his British successor. Which latter point is why it is surely disappointing for the UK game that Leeds, Wigan, Saints, Wire, Hudds, Catalans...even now have Aussie coaches?

With that in mind how does this idea grab everyone.
We bring in brian mcdermott on a 2 year deal with an option to extend it ( wouldnt like to see us tied into a long deal like we were with macca just in case it turns out to be a bad appointment).
We also give menzies a new playing deal. now a player of his age would probably accept a deal for less money than his current contract on the understanding that he wouldnt be playing as big a role on the pitch. But we give menzies a contract on the same money as his current deal but as a player/assistant coach, similar to what deacon got at wigan. so we spend no more on menzies than this year but he takes on additional responsibilities on coaching side and if mcdermott doesnt work out we have a number 2 ready to step in. Also it gives menzies time to take any necessary coaching badges needed.

The top 4 are all Aussie coaches, 3 of the bottom 4 English. Leeds & Saints success has been built on overseas coaches, so I can't see it changing for many a year. Ironically the the only way I can see it changing is if Macca coaches England to an Ashes victory.

Why is it that NRL coaches, and even their assistants are apparently so mucjbetter that ours? And that they can make an improvement to our trams when they come over here.
Why is it that our home grown coavjes are so far behinfd them?

They arn't. No coach has matched Nobby's achievements in SL.

I'm surprised Noble is not on the list. I suspect the 31 votes for someone else are for him. His track record as a coach is exemplary and the team he has scratched together at crusaders are nothing like wooden spoonists most predicted. Why people are reluctanct to have him back is beyhond me.

1. Because his success was built on the basis of being able to spend as much as possible on players.

2. Because his success was built on the basis of a team heavy in antipodeans (as of course it is at Crusaders, and as was his approach at Wigan) at the expense of youth development.

Outstanding coach for us when financial constraints were not there, and it was practicable to major on antipodeans and not have to worry about long-term enduring young player development. But we are in a different environment now, one which he would very probably not welcome and IMO would struggle to come to terms with.

There was no way Crusaders would be wooden spoonists once it became clear the sort of money they must have to spend on antipodeans (yet another arrived this week) and coaching staff.

Incidentally, my vote was for someone else and it was not for him.

Mine wasn't for him either.

Been told your signing Millward 80 grand a year, hope its not true.

Justin Morgan's star seems to be on the wane in quite remarkable fashion.

Yup, Rovers were woeful again today. They somehow managed to be even worse than we were yesterday, which is an impressive feat.

Agreed, I wish we'd drawn them for this week!