ZORBA’S VIEW
Peter Peters 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.
Kieran Foran has until round 13 to change his mind.
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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.
Here are the names on the gravestones since 2006: 2006 Brian Smith 2006 Jason Taylor (caretaker) 2007-2008 Michael Hagan 2009-2010 Daniel Anderson 2011-2012 Stephen Kearney 2012 Brad Arthur (caretaker) 2013 Ricky Stuart 2014 Brad Arthur In recent times, two years is about the average term of a Parramatta coach, with the club having no problems replacing them mid-season.
Foran has been open and up front about his admiration for Arthur, forged during a
two-season stint he had as an assistant to Geoff Toovey at Manly.
Herein lies a vital point in Foran’s announcement this week that he would sign with Parramatta for four years, from 2016-19 inclusive. Foran has two of the smartest operators in player management in George Mimis and Paul Sutton, from SFX sports management.
I don’t believe they would have allowed Foran to sign a deal without a get-out clause concerning the coach.
It would be that if Arthur is sacked, then Fozzie could walk out.
😱
Parramatta chief executive Scott Seward has denied there is such a clause.
Only Foran and his management know the truth but if Parramatta are telling porkies, that will already be leaving a sour taste in Foran’s mouth.
So where does that leave Foran and, indeed, Daly Cherry-Evans?
They both have until round 13 – 10 weeks away – to change their minds on their multimillion-dollar deals with Parramatta and the Gold Coast respectively. Their decisions to leave have been, by their own admissions, very tough to make.
Leaving the Sea Eagles, the lifestyle, the community and the avid fans isn’t easy.
I recall in 1987 Ronnie Gibbs made a mid-season decision to leave the next season for the Gold Coast.
He went on to play outstandingly for the rest of the season under coach Bob Fulton as Manly won the last grand final at the SCG.
At the end of the season, Gibbs openly regretted his decision to leave but there was no cooling-off period in those days.
His career never really reached great heights after he left a powerful club with culture to go to a club with no culture or real success.
That must be weighing heavily on the minds of both the young playmakers.
Cherry-Evans was as good as I have seen him last Saturday night against Melbourne Storm.
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Hey Z, Foz is just not that into you!
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Fact check item - Dalai walked away from his second year contract with Manly.
It only took one year for Foz to choose him over you
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The kiddies who love Chez and Foz don't know/care about the 80's turncoats either.