Date April 21, 2013
Michael Carayannis, Michael Chammas
St George Illawarra have targeted Manly assistant coach Brad Arthur as a possible long-term replacement for under-fire coach Steve Price with his strong ties to new recruits Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson an added trump card.
Fairfax Media understands Arthur's manager Chris Orr has held preliminary discussions with Dragons management about Arthur taking charge of the Dragons from 2014. The coaching future is expected to be discussed at a board meeting on Tuesday night after Arthur rejected interest in joining English Super League club Salford.
Despite winning three games in a row Price's future has been thrown into question. The off-contract coach has taken a back seat in forward planning at the club, with boss Peter Doust and recruitment manager Craig Young taking charge of the Dragons' 2014 roster.
Well connected: Brad Arthur's relationship with new Dragons recruits Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson only adds to his credentials.
Arthur's relationship with incoming star recruit Gareth Widdop, since Widdop started under Arthur as part of Melbourne's under-20s team, sets him up as a key appointment at the Dragons. Arthur has maintained a strong friendship with the Melbourne Storm premiership-winning five-eighth who signed a four-year deal with St George Illawarra on Friday. Widdop kicked the winning goal to lead Arthur's Storm team to a 2009 under-20s grand final victory. Arthur has also tracked the progress of fellow new Dragons recruit Joel Thompson, who was part of the Storm set-up before joining the Raiders.
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He joined Manly as Geoff Toovey's assistant this year having followed Stephen Kearney from Melbourne to Parramatta in 2011 to be Kearney's right-hand man.
When Kearney was sacked late last year, Arthur took charge for the final six games of last season, winning his first two of three games. He relocated to Manly on a two-year deal when he was told he would not be part of Ricky Stuart's NRL coaching staff at the Eels.
The indecision caps a turbulent time for the Dragons, who along with Price have captain Ben Creagh and veterans Nathan Fien, Matt Cooper and Michael Weyman off-contract as well as young hooker Mitch Rein.
Meanwhile, the Dragons' last long-term five-eighth Trent Barrett has endorsed Jamie Soward's shock departure to Penrith. Barrett, who is preparing for his first senior coaching position when he takes charge of Country on Sunday, will be joined by Soward at Penrith. ''He'll be good,'' Barrett said. ''He'll be able to control the game. His form over the last few weeks is back to where he was a few years ago and and with the forward pack we've got it will suit his game.''
Barrett said Soward's signing was a launching pad for the club.
''We have a young side, and Jamie has played in a lot of big games,'' he said. ''He's going to help our young halves with their kicking. It's a start for us, we are going through a bit of a rebuilding phase.
''There is pressure wherever you go and the fans will expect him to play well.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/arthur-in-line-to-replace-price-20130420-2i6zv.html#ixzz2R0YHUEIK
Michael Carayannis, Michael Chammas
St George Illawarra have targeted Manly assistant coach Brad Arthur as a possible long-term replacement for under-fire coach Steve Price with his strong ties to new recruits Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson an added trump card.
Fairfax Media understands Arthur's manager Chris Orr has held preliminary discussions with Dragons management about Arthur taking charge of the Dragons from 2014. The coaching future is expected to be discussed at a board meeting on Tuesday night after Arthur rejected interest in joining English Super League club Salford.
Despite winning three games in a row Price's future has been thrown into question. The off-contract coach has taken a back seat in forward planning at the club, with boss Peter Doust and recruitment manager Craig Young taking charge of the Dragons' 2014 roster.
Well connected: Brad Arthur's relationship with new Dragons recruits Gareth Widdop and Joel Thompson only adds to his credentials.
Arthur's relationship with incoming star recruit Gareth Widdop, since Widdop started under Arthur as part of Melbourne's under-20s team, sets him up as a key appointment at the Dragons. Arthur has maintained a strong friendship with the Melbourne Storm premiership-winning five-eighth who signed a four-year deal with St George Illawarra on Friday. Widdop kicked the winning goal to lead Arthur's Storm team to a 2009 under-20s grand final victory. Arthur has also tracked the progress of fellow new Dragons recruit Joel Thompson, who was part of the Storm set-up before joining the Raiders.
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He joined Manly as Geoff Toovey's assistant this year having followed Stephen Kearney from Melbourne to Parramatta in 2011 to be Kearney's right-hand man.
When Kearney was sacked late last year, Arthur took charge for the final six games of last season, winning his first two of three games. He relocated to Manly on a two-year deal when he was told he would not be part of Ricky Stuart's NRL coaching staff at the Eels.
The indecision caps a turbulent time for the Dragons, who along with Price have captain Ben Creagh and veterans Nathan Fien, Matt Cooper and Michael Weyman off-contract as well as young hooker Mitch Rein.
Meanwhile, the Dragons' last long-term five-eighth Trent Barrett has endorsed Jamie Soward's shock departure to Penrith. Barrett, who is preparing for his first senior coaching position when he takes charge of Country on Sunday, will be joined by Soward at Penrith. ''He'll be good,'' Barrett said. ''He'll be able to control the game. His form over the last few weeks is back to where he was a few years ago and and with the forward pack we've got it will suit his game.''
Barrett said Soward's signing was a launching pad for the club.
''We have a young side, and Jamie has played in a lot of big games,'' he said. ''He's going to help our young halves with their kicking. It's a start for us, we are going through a bit of a rebuilding phase.
''There is pressure wherever you go and the fans will expect him to play well.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/arthur-in-line-to-replace-price-20130420-2i6zv.html#ixzz2R0YHUEIK
