New side enters the race for Trent Barrett

The former Canterbury mentor will have options ahead of 2023.

WRITER | AUGUST 17, 2022 - 11:41AM

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The former coach has been out of work for three months since his departure from Canterbury, however a local rival looks set to swoop on Barrett as an assistant coach - the Parramatta Eels.

White still sitting firmly in the top eight, things have gotten rocky at times for Parramatta in 2022, losing a stack of talent ahead of next season while numerous other head coaches have been linked to the club, applying pressure to incumbent coach Brad Arthur.

Both Cameron Ciraldo and Michael Maguire were reported to have spoken to the club over the last six weeks.

Linked heavily with a return to the Dragons as Anthony Griffin's assistant, the Eels have identified Barrett as a quality right-hand man for Arthur, and he certainly has the track record to boot.

Despite his poor head coaching statistics, Barrett does have some favourable stints as an assistant, most notably his recent time spent at Penrith before joining the Bulldogs.

Channel Nine's 'The Mole' reports that chats have already gotten underway for Barrett to link up with Parramatta in 2023.

Having won just two finals games in nine years as the Eels' head coach, it appears the blowtorch is well and truly finally on Arthur after a succession of underperforming seasons or soft exits in the post-season.

Whether he accepts the role or not, it seems Trent Barrett will certainly be employed by an NRL club ahead of the 2023 season.

"We have also had a lot of injury prone players that has been impacting our squad for a few years now. R. Penisini seems to have been injured for 3 years now, AMS, Haze Dunster, Bailey, Matterson. As you said it's no coincidence that Russell and JAC…"

"It's possible definitely but based on the current form especially of the Titans game, injury list, obvious fitness levels it's going to be a real struggle. Yes, the Eels are scoring points when they're really focused in on the match but they're…"

"Just so you understand its the rhetoric of how it would be seen by the NRL with regard to us paying a transfer fee to St George in lieu of a cap inclusion.
I don't expect you to understand that and I am not even sure it will work....but its the cap…"

Replies

josh jones August 18, 2022 at 9:56am

Barret as an assistant would be fine. He's footy IQ is far far great than the Brad the bush man Arthur. Clearly Barret has deficiencies in that head coaching role. Only concern is he's coming off a rough sacking so will it affect his coaching.
Adam Magrath August 18, 2022 at 10:53am

Anyone know what sort of money assistant coaches are on?
josh jones August 18, 2022 at 2:22pm

I find it hilarious that BA is/was supposed to be a gear defensive coach. That was one his greatest skills supposedly. Was that some sort of bad joke. He's absolutely clueless. Seems like we need about 8 assistant cosch fir BA. One to offense, One for Defense. One for team selections, one for game day, one for rotations during the game. And the rest
- Bob Smith > josh jones August 18, 2022 at 2:35pm
  
  I remember last year Sterlo schooling BA on using the sideline as an additional defender. 8 years and still couldn't figure that out.

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