From the Daily Telegraph
The axing of South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou turns the blowtorch onto another struggling mentor in Parramatta’s Brad Arthur, adding a layer of intrigue to the Rabbitohs’ pursuit of Wayne Bennett.
Demetriou and Eels coach Arthur started the week as the NRL’s most under-pressure coaches.
Now, Demetriou no longer has a job.
Arthur has the unwavering support of Parramatta powerbrokers but with the Eels facing another season of finals oblivion, the coach’s job security is looking tenuous.
The Eels are languishing in 14th on the NRL ladder and now have to turn their season around without both general Mitchell Moses (foot) and skipper Clint Gutherson (knee).
It feels like an uphill battle for Arthur. One he must conquer to not only silence detractors but the rumours – which refuse to go away – about Bennett lurking in the shadows waiting for a chance to pounce.
The axing of South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou turns the blowtorch onto another struggling mentor in Parramatta’s Brad Arthur. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly has made Bennett the No.1 priority and has already started work to get the deal done and Bennett has declared his interest in taking over from Demetriou.
It leaves Parramatta at risk of missing out on the coach that is arguably best suited to replace Arthur if the club does eventually part ways with the coach.
Interestingly, South Sydney are also monitoring Arthur’s situation at the Eels.
For many pundits, Bennett returning to South Sydney on unfinished business, after taking the side to the 2021 grand final, is a foregone conclusion.
But Bennett, who has won seven titles, is a shrewd operator – one that would know Parramatta is actually the more attractive proposition.
The situation at South Sydney is dire.
The side has only won two games since late August last year, there is speculation the playing group is fractured and talk management is not on the same page.
The best football appears to be behind the likes of Cody Walker and Damien Cook while Latrell Mitchell remains an enigma and the club is betting on an untried NRL commodity in St Helens halfback Lewis Dodd to lead a revival.
Parramatta are in a far better shape overall. Ironically, a lot of that is on Arthur.
Boasting the likes of Moses, Gutherson, Junior Paulo and youngsters like Dylan Brown and Will Penisini, the Eels should be in a premiership window.
No one is better at taking an experienced, but balanced side that is ripe for the picking to the next level than Bennett.
The club identified the outside backs as a position that needed strengthening and have now added Zac Lomax, arguably the form outside back in the NRL, to the mix.
It took over 12 months to land the right player, but the club managed to achieve what it set out to do.
Unlike South Sydney, Parramatta also have a seriously promising crop of young talent coming through.
The likes of playmakers Blaize Talagi and Ethan Sanders lead a cohort of impressive youngsters that also includes hooker Matt Arthur, centre Richard Penisini and forwards Charlie Gymer and Sam Tuivaiti.
The lure of winning a title at the Eels and achieving a feat no other coach has been able to since 1986, is hard to refuse for a coach like Bennett.
The option of choosing Parramatta is likely to be taken from Bennett with Parramatta unlikely to make a move on Arthur any time soon.
It begs the question, if not Arthur or Bennett, then who?
Jason Ryles is an option but is unlikely to leave the Storm even if Craig Bellamy does coach for another season. Michael Maguire is committed to the NSW Blues for at least two seasons.
Cronulla and Queensland assistant Josh Hannay is highly regarded and seen as the next NRL head coach in waiting.
But given the pressure the Eels gig comes with, and the very big personalities in the roster, the job is better suited to someone with plenty of experience.
While Arthur is safe for now, the club can’t deny that serious consideration must be given to a change of personnel.
Not at the coaching level but in the roster.
Once a formidable proposition, Parramatta’s forward pack is well below the mark in 2024.
The Eels rely heavily on the likes of Paulo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Joe Ofahengaue to generate go forward momentum and less on outside back carries out of yardage.
But the added workload is denting the effectiveness of the side’s power game, especially in the second half of matches.
Instead of big middles bending the line, it has exposed the Eels of lacking agility and mobility in the forward pack – a cornerstone in the modern game.
Replies
Why does Ricky Stuart avoid these conversations, hasn't won a comp since 2002 🤣
I guess he has still won a comp though. However, he has been at Canberra for same amount of time as BA, lost more games and made 1 GF same to BA. He has made top 4 same amount as BA, 2 years. Made one more prelim. In 10 years made finals 5 times, same as BA. They are both quite similar though BA has won more games as a few of Canberra's season have been so lopsided in that they finish bottom 4 then top 2 the following year.
Stuart as well has him being a club legend on his side. I know a Canberra fan and whenever i bring up sacking Stuart he replies "Yeah, but he is a club legend". Not many Canberra fans i've seen call for his head due to that stature. Plus Stuart this year has done quite well with a roster that many thought would be bottom 4.
NOS, thanks for sharing this article, buddy.
Another name that got thrown around yesterday: Brian McDermott, the current Newcastle senior assistant, defence coach, from last year.
He's the most successful coach in Super League history: four titles (Leeds in 11 seasons), and another one (a lesser one) with the Toronto Wolfbangers (sic) or whatever their name is. A former USA coach. He coaches coaches.
He's impressive mate. A few years older than Arthur but an infinitely more interesting and impressive character.
I reckon you'd be impressed with him. He's not an oil painting, but a big lump of a fella in body, character and aura. Have a study of his work and listen to him talk.
Tough as nails, but far more. Am considering writing a blog on him.
A former Royal Marine who served in places like Iraq who left the Marines after not seeing enough action or whatever. Sheet. He said serving and being under fire gave him a deep, inner confidence. A mental toughness. But he doesn't often talk about all that often.
Then, he went into pro boxing. For a bit. Knocked out a bloke or two.
He's also a former title-winning player with a few hundred games for Bradford, five tests at front row for England and Great Britain. An agressive front rower, second rower and sometime lock who never took a backward step.
All that was before making his way into coaching.
He had a tough start in the coaching arena (London Broncos or whatnot) before being an assistant under Tony Smith (Brian Smith's brother) before taking over Leeds where he had success. He's been through the wringer and back. Ten years ago he admitted he used to be an "arrogant prick". He had his run ins with Smith, too.
So, go ask Brian Smith about him. He'll probably tell you something not too different about him, lol.
McDermott is really intriguing character. Being a former marine, you'd think he's all about army like drills and "toughness". Yes, but not quite. He's far more. He can have a laugh. He is about gamifying training and makes it interesting and not predictable. He definitely has an aura about him.
If you listen to him talk, he's all about "mentality", toughness under pressure", "winning", and "processes" (the bridge between culture and winning). Processes being the things you do; habit patterns including his favorite idea of learning by games. Gamifying is a common teaching principle. He says if training is too predictable and regimented ("army like") players aren't going to show up and perform. They'll get bored.
I reckon all that "coaching intelligence" and focus on "what's between the ears" has been missing and a problem for us under Arthur at times. I don't see him letting players slack off for too long, like Arthur.
One thing he's well known for is getting to know everything about players. And I mean everything. He leaves no stone unturned.
He's kind of a calmer, smarter, larrakin version of David Goggins sometimes called the toughest man on the planets.
Another thing I noticed about McDermott is he can get a team up.
When he won four titles in five years at Leeds, they weren't the best team all year. They were 3-6 in attack in defence or whatever and finished the season anywhere from 1st-5th. But, he got them up for the big dance.
If we don't get Bennett for whatever reasons, this guy should be a consideration.
I think he's better than Ryles and some other names being thrown about. He's got something about him.
The biggest problem with him for our board is is he might shake up the joint a bit too much. Because this guy ain't a navel glazer. He's a winner.
I'm not all that confident we'll get Bennett. Knowing our luck, and sloth pace, we'll miss Wayne, then another club will snap up McDermott.
The thing about Sarantinos (I like the guy tbh just not everything they are doing) is he kind of has this five-year badge of honour to disregard "external noise" from the media (and fans you'd expect) that he says he's learnt after give years at the helm. So, you can expect a bit more of the slower than "the turtle wins the race."
Last month, Sarantinos also stated regardless of injuries the expectation is we are a "finals" team.
Let's see how long he, McElduff and co. stays that way - unbending - if this crap on-field stuff continues and we look certain to miss the finals (we do already).
I love strength of mind, stability and stubbornness - to hold the line under pressure and backing the coach - kudos for all that. But this is getting to the point of rigid naivety and a "blind spot" foolhardiness.
There's a point where stability and rigidity become a weakness. Where you snap into pieces, unless you start bending and adapting to circumstances. That dance is actually what "survival of the fittest" is all about.
"He's not an oil painting, but a big lump of a fella" - hahahaha.... classic.
HOE, McDermott sounds like an intriguing character. Assuming he is after a HC role in Aus? There are some serious points about him that sound very applicable to the Eels.
Will look him up, thanks HOE, a great post.
Lol, NOS. Yeah, I think he would jump at a difficult challenge. Have a look at a number of interviews with him (where he shows many different sides) and his three-part coaching the coaches series.
He might be a bit too mentally "tough" and rattle a few cages at the Eels, unlike the more street smart, though lesser talented Arthur. McDermott is more direct and through the front door than Arthur, despite all the talk.
I suspect McDermott, if given power, would just tell the board, "Look do you want to start 'winning games' and getting players right 'between the ears' or prefer me to do swan dances with all the political nice-sounding bollocks?" Because that's exactly how he talks and ask his wife about his dancing skills (he's joked about that). He'd probably scare them too much.
Holbrook is a bit more compliant and sweet-talking. They'd probably prefer someone like that if we miss Bennett. He's better than Ryles in any case IMO.
Well done Nos and Hoe, you two make a hell of team.
The choosing and calmness of your blog selection was almost "soothing" to read NOS and it depicts a scene playing out that makes sense.
Hoe, Your input is great and whilst you are too much of a gentleman to say you don't tolerate fools, everything you said was virtually saying no panic, no dopes, an understanding that Saratinos is an intelligent man and whether he is an expert as a CEO of a NRL club or not it doesn't mean he is a "dope".
I was quiet taken with McDermott (haven't heard of him before), I agree he is the type we want, I also like the fact that he was a self admitted "arrogant prick" shame he gave that away 10 years ago, I have never managed to lose mine "yet", I think being on 1EE has enabled me to stay in practice LOL.... I am quietly confident that the Eels could bring that back out from him.....God Bless!
Thank God we have some calmness on here.
PS I loved Sluggy talking to one of the new idiots on the site last week, he asked are you a new "dope" or a recylced "dope" he further explained, you seem to know everything about me (Slugg) so I am guessing your recycled.
Ill tell you who is a big fan of Mc Dermott and that's Wayne Bennett. Can you imagine those two at the Eels 😲😲 Shaun Lane will need that psychology degree that's for sure !
I have mates that are Leeds supporters and they rave on about him. I never realized he was out here. Until gould recommended him for Souths. Furthermore I never realized he was at Newcastle. Explains their stellar run last season.
Maybe that's who Souths are really looking at? English halfback English coach?
I gotta admit I had only really every heard about McDermott in passing - now that I've gone and had a look at his credentials and his history...you may very well be onto something HOE!
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