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First Grader
Bookmakers have installed Nathan Brown as the coach most likely to be dumped mid-season.
Sports betting agency Sportingbet Australia has installed Brown as the $3.25 favourite to not see out the regular season, ahead of Roosters coach Chris Anderson at $6.50.
Surprisingly, North Queensland's Graham Murray is on the third line of betting at $11 and Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes is next on the list at $15.
Brown is under pressure after the Dragons experienced another slow start to the year that has netted only two wins. The most recent, a gutsy 28-16 win against Penrith, brought his odds in slightly from $3.50, but he is the second favourite result overall - the agency is offering $2 on all 16 coaches surviving until the beginning of round 25.
"Our view is that Nathan Brown is no longer a rookie coach, he's got experience under his belt," Sportingbet chief executive Michael Sullivan said. "For that reason we expect better things, especially at a signature club such as St George Illawarra.
"Until their fortunes turn around he's going to be the favourite."
Brown's cause hasn't been helped by a horrific injury toll which has claimed Mark Gasnier, Dean Young, Simon Woolford and Jason Ryles for extended periods. Untested rookies have had to fill the void.
"A lot of fans and media think because a kid is playing first-grade footy at 19 or 20 that he's definitely 100 per cent a first-grader," Brown said. "If you were a building a house, you wouldn't get eight apprentices to build it, you'd get two apprentices and six people who are qualified.
"People don't take that into account in professional sport. They think they'll go in and be geniuses, but it doesn't happen overnight."
The biggest mover in the market over the weekend has been Matthew Elliott. The Panthers coach started the round at $51 but his odds were slashed to $26 after his side had their fifth successive loss, to the Dragons.
Elliott was bracing for a backlash after another poor performance.
"I've moved out of the dark room and I'm in the desert with the vultures circling," Elliott said.
Manly's Des Hasler and Melbourne's Craig Bellamy are considered sure things to remain at the helm throughout the year after being quoted at $101 to be sacked.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN PRIOR TO THIS WEEKENDS GAMES. i DARE SAY SMITH WOULD HAVE FRIMED DRAMATICALLY.
Source: The Sun-Herald
Sports betting agency Sportingbet Australia has installed Brown as the $3.25 favourite to not see out the regular season, ahead of Roosters coach Chris Anderson at $6.50.
Surprisingly, North Queensland's Graham Murray is on the third line of betting at $11 and Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes is next on the list at $15.
Brown is under pressure after the Dragons experienced another slow start to the year that has netted only two wins. The most recent, a gutsy 28-16 win against Penrith, brought his odds in slightly from $3.50, but he is the second favourite result overall - the agency is offering $2 on all 16 coaches surviving until the beginning of round 25.
"Our view is that Nathan Brown is no longer a rookie coach, he's got experience under his belt," Sportingbet chief executive Michael Sullivan said. "For that reason we expect better things, especially at a signature club such as St George Illawarra.
"Until their fortunes turn around he's going to be the favourite."
Brown's cause hasn't been helped by a horrific injury toll which has claimed Mark Gasnier, Dean Young, Simon Woolford and Jason Ryles for extended periods. Untested rookies have had to fill the void.
"A lot of fans and media think because a kid is playing first-grade footy at 19 or 20 that he's definitely 100 per cent a first-grader," Brown said. "If you were a building a house, you wouldn't get eight apprentices to build it, you'd get two apprentices and six people who are qualified.
"People don't take that into account in professional sport. They think they'll go in and be geniuses, but it doesn't happen overnight."
The biggest mover in the market over the weekend has been Matthew Elliott. The Panthers coach started the round at $51 but his odds were slashed to $26 after his side had their fifth successive loss, to the Dragons.
Elliott was bracing for a backlash after another poor performance.
"I've moved out of the dark room and I'm in the desert with the vultures circling," Elliott said.
Manly's Des Hasler and Melbourne's Craig Bellamy are considered sure things to remain at the helm throughout the year after being quoted at $101 to be sacked.
THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN PRIOR TO THIS WEEKENDS GAMES. i DARE SAY SMITH WOULD HAVE FRIMED DRAMATICALLY.
Source: The Sun-Herald
