HOSTILITIES between 68-year foes Manly and Parramatta have re-ignited after a Sea Eagles legend and board member predicted Eels coach Brad Arthur may soon be sacked.
Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp has fired back at Manly director Peter Peters, who questioned why star Sea Eagle Kieran Foran signed with the Eels.
Peters wrote in his Manly Daily column: “If Eels coach Brad Arthur has told Manly’s Kieran Foran he will be in charge of Parramatta for the next four years, history shows it is a promise he cannot deliver.
“Since Brian Smith finished up mid-season in 2006 there has been a revolving door for Eels coaches. The axe has come down on seven coaches in the past eight years. Parramatta has been a graveyard for coaches as the club craves success in the NRL.”
Speaking after his team’s 29-16 loss to New Zealand in Auckland, Sharp stood solidly by Arthur.
“Kieran Foran wants to be coached by Brad Arthur,” Sharp said. “Brad gets the best out of the players. Kieran is already a top-line player but he wants to be a better player.
“Brad’s got another two years remaining after this season. He has a great rapport with the players. They understand him, he understands them.
“He is a tough coach and I think he will be here for a long time. I haven’t sacked a coach (since becoming chairman) and I have no intention of doing that.”
Sharp added: “I think ‘Zorba’ (Peters) is trying to protect his own patch. I understand that.”
Peters was all fired up when he penned his controversial column.
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"I don't have a coach clause in my deal." Foran said
Brian Smith - Was told at the start of 2006 that his contact would not be renewed after it's expiry at the conclusion of the '06 season. He decided to leave mid-season after an alcohol fuelled incident involving Tim Smith & Mark Riddell. WAS NOT SACKED
Jason Taylor - Was only an interim coach warming the seat for Michael Hagan. Would not have seen 1st Grade at Parra if it wasn't for Smith's premature departure. WAS NOT SACKED
Michael Hagan - Didn't like the travel to and from Parra from his home in Newcastle. Chose to leave on his own accord. WAS NOT SACKED
Daniel Anderson - Was given the punt 2 years into a 3 year deal because of the change in board at the time. Was a victim of the what we now know to be the incompetent 3P.
Stephen Kearney - Was given the punt as it became clear he wasn't NRL coaching standard. Was also a victim of the recruitment decisions of previous coach
Brad Arthur - Interim coach after Kearney sacking. Warming the seat for Ricky Stuart. WAS NOT SACKED.
Ricky Stuart - Not up to NRL coaching standard. Chose to leave before he did any more damage to his reputation. WAS NOT SACKED.
So out of the 7 coaches since, and including Smith, only 2 were sacked. I wish the media would stop pushing the lies and giving air time to the likes of dinosaurs such as Peter Peters, commenting on matters at other clubs that they clearly know nothing about, or have obviously not done their research
Just saved me 10 minutes typing all of the same. Well said. Hagan also had medical issues hampering his efforts (vertigo I think its called) I think all Parra coaches end up suffering from that at some stage lol
Its incredible that the organisation that gave Peters the opportunity of a career in Rugby League is the organisation that he has devoted a lifetime of targeted bile towards. The man is a complete grub which is an assessment many Manly fans would agree with.
Peters was such an athlete too. In his playing days he would make George Rose look like SBW.
your parents have to be pricks too when your surname is Peters and they name you Peter.