DANIEL Anderson's sacking at the Parramatta Eels has created a bizarre game of coaching musical chairs that could pave the way for Ricky Stuart to become coach of the Brisbane Broncos next year.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Kiwi Test coach Kearney - who Parramatta is about to sign - was also in the sights of the Brisbane Broncos, where Ivan Henjak's job is shaky and under review.
The Parramatta Eels were in serious danger of missing out on Kearney to the Broncos if they had not sacked Anderson immediately at Sunday night's emergency board meeting.
Now, former Sharks coach Stuart is in contention for the Broncos job should their board and new CEO - tipped to be Gene Miles - decide to remove Henjak.
Kearney is expected to sign with Parramatta by the end of the week on a three-year contract to replace Anderson, who is unemployed just 12 months after taking the Eels to the grand final.
Two of the eight directors supported Anderson staying for the remainder of his contract but the other six wanted Kearney straight away, knowing there was a real risk they would lose the best young coach in the business to the Brisbane Broncos.
Facing an election next year, the directors know they will be under pressure to keep their job unless Kearney gets them off to a strong start.
In Anderson's two seasons at Parramatta, the club has been in the top eight for only eight weeks out of a possible 52.
The dumped eels coach would not return phone calls or text messages yesterday.
The removal of deadwood from the leagues and football club staff over the past 18 months has seen a $2 million turnaround in the club's finances but directors are fully aware members want results on the football field more than a thriving business.
Meanwhile, former Test coach Stuart sits quietly in the background unaware that the Eels upheaval may have thrown the door open for a job at the Broncos.
Like Parramatta, the Broncos are undergoing an internal review and it is understood Henjak has been criticised for lacking communication skills with senior players including skipper Darren Lockyer.
Since cutting ties with the Sharks, Stuart has shown interest in the NSW State of Origin position but insists he wants nothing to do with a NRL club while a coach is still in the job.
His manager John Fordham last night insisted there had been no contact with the Broncos, where Stuart has a close relationship with Lockyer and other Test players from when he coached the Kangaroos.
"There have been no talks at all," Fordham said.
"Ricky is not a person who wants to thow his name out there for any job that comes up. It's just not his go.
"Anything that has been suggested so far regarding his career is pure speculation."
Replies
FUCK THATS BAD!!!!
He's gone, and as much as some of us here would have liked him to stay, it wasn't to be, and so we have to focus on the club's future under possibly Stephen Kearney.
The main reason of the article is KEARNEY getting signed up to the broncos before him coming to us.
cant you read?
It's still to do with Ando and his sacking.
There are other blogs on Stephen Kearney, so surely this article could have been posted there instead of starting a whole new blog on the subject?