Interesting read
Transcript from League Central
PARRAMATTA boss Paul Osborne has admitted he can't guarantee coach Daniel Anderson his job.
In an extensive interview, he also spoke for the first time about his secret trip to Melbourne to interview Stephen Kearney and declared the pursuit of Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper is genuine.
Will Daniel Anderson be coaching Parramatta in 2011?
"There has been no decision made to the contrary. Like any business, we will review all aspects of the performance of the football team, and all the club's operations, when the time is right. That will happen at the end of the season. We all realise there was a lot of expectation on the team at the start of the season, which we haven't met to date."
Anderson has a contract for 2011, doesn't he?
Yes, he does."
Why did you fly to Melbourne on Monday to meet with Stephen Kearney?
"I took it upon myself to have an informal chat so I knew if Steve might be an alternative should the board decide to review the coaching position at any stage in the future; be it next year, the year after or the year after that. I want to establish that I was under no directive from the board to do so, it was my decision. I hope we keep winning and the coaching position won't be an issue, but I thought it was due diligence to know what options might be there in the future.
"I want to reiterate, no decision will be made in regard to whether there will be any change to the coaching staff until the season is completed and we review all aspects of our operations."
Does this mean Anderson will be sacked at the end of this season?
"No."
There is speculation Anderson has lost the dressing room. Is this true?
"Not that I am aware of."
Jarryd Hayne said last night that Anderson has his full support. Does that change anything?
"Obviously, as far as any review is concerned, the feedback of the players is important. I have never doubted Jarryd's support of the coach."
What are the senior players saying about the Anderson situation?
"You would hate this to derail your finals charge. They are professional footballers desperate to play finals."
Some would say that after making last year's grand final and being beaten by a team well over the salary cap, you haven't shown much loyalty to your coach by even meeting with Kearney?
"I think I've said all I want to on the coaching position."
You lose Nathan Cayless, Feleti Mateo, Kris Keating and Krisnan Inu next season and you're struggling in the halves. The Eels are yet to sign a player for next year, what's your answer to filling that void?
"I'm conscious of that, but we are in discussion with a number of players and hope to be not too far away from some announcements. It's all about getting the right players and sometimes that can take time. We'll be judged at the end of the process, not during. It's no secret we are looking to bolster our young halves and we have some other irons in the fire. The good thing is that we have a very good squad to build on and have retained Origin players like Tim Mannah and Jarryd Hayne long term, plus some of the bright young talent and experienced players."
Are you seriously interested in signing Quade Cooper?
"Only if he is genuinely interested in playing in the NRL. We think he could be an outstanding league player and I'm sure any NRL club would be serious if he was genuine about making the switch. That's what he has to decide. But, yes, we are very interested in him - but we won't be used as leverage if he wants to remain a rugby player."
The NRL has lost Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt to AFL, do you think it's time our game fought back? Should the NRL get involved in trying to lure Quade Cooper?
"They haven't in the past and I see no reason to now, especially when you have 16 established NRL clubs competing for talent. The AFL have admitted the signing of Folau and Hunt was as much about PR as their football prowess. I don't think we're in the position to have to worry about public relations stunts. We're about football talent and wanting to win competitions."
Did you speak to Anderson about dropping Daniel Mortimer?
"Firstly, Daniel wasn't dropped, he was rested due to the incredible physical toll he has endured this season when plenty of teams have targeted him in defence.
"No, the coach doesn't need to consult me on changes to the football team but I fully support his decision. Daniel is a terrific young man and footballer and will be a first-grader for many years ... but at 79kg he is not a big player, although he is very courageous. Adjusting to the physical rigours of the weekly intensity of the NRL is something he was always going to confront. That's part of his education."
Some fans believe Mortimer has been made a scapegoat for the Eels' poor season. What would you say to those fans?
"I would say they are wrong. We beat the Broncos [on Friday night] and kept our finals hopes alive and that showed the changes to the team worked, and Daniel will benefit from the rest."
Has there been too much pressure placed on his young shoulders?
"All players in the NRL have a certain degree of pressure, it comes with the territory, especially when you had such a great first season as Daniel did and he carries a famous name. But he knows all about that and is very mature in dealing with it. I don't think pressure is going to be Daniel Mortimer's undoing."
You won on Friday night, can the Eels do the impossible again?
"Yes. The confidence and belief is there, but the side is still out of the top eight and has to rely on teams above us on the ladder losing and one more loss could mean missing the finals. It's week to week from here, but everyone in the club knows what the side is capable of."
Was it disappointing to have Nathan Cayless' captaincy record overshadowed by the coaching controversy on Friday night?
"I don't think it was. We had a magnificent victory to celebrate his feat of 217 first grade games as captain, which is an iconic achievement and it was great to see Channel 9 recognise the milestone on their coverage. His teammates were proud of winning that match and the club is proud of Nathan's achievements, he has proved an outstanding leader."
Does the club have any special plans for his farewell at season's end?
"Absolutely. We have a special dinner in his honour planned and a tribute at our last home game of the season against the Warriors, which includes him leading the team out to a guard of honour of club legends, among other things."
Next Sunday you play the Wests Tigers at home. Is it the biggest game of the season?
"Every match from last night has become the biggest game of the year. Our season swings on the next game from here on in."
Replies
It's like he wants to be the face of the team and not the players.