Player unrest can only end one way: Walker
TITANS foundation player Chris Walker fears Neil Henry’s position is untenable if the Gold Coast coach has lost the support of the majority of his squad.
Former Queensland Origin star Walker, who scored the Titans’ first-ever try in their debut season a decade ago, said Gold Coast hierarchy have only one choice if Henry is losing the dressingroom.
“If Neil Henry has lost the players, it will be impossible for him to turn the Titans around,” said Walker, who played 151 top-grade games.
“I’m not saying Neil Henry should be sacked because I’m not at the club day-in, day-out, but I’ll be honest ... if there is player unrest there is only one answer – the coach has to go.
“Player-power always wins out. If there was one player with a problem with Neil, it would be easy to move on that player or dump him to reserve grade.
“But if there are a bunch of blokes, it’s harder to get rid of six players rather than one coach.”
Walker spent one season at Melbourne in 2006 under Craig Bellamy and believes the long-serving coach is capable of transferring his remarkable success to the Titans.
Bellamy is off-contract next year and while it is understood he has no intention of leaving the Storm, Walker says a mentor with a Bellamy-like work ethic could make the Gold Coast a title force.
“Craig Bellamy would be unbelievable to have, but it will be a tough ask to get him,” Walker said. “Even if the Titans can’t get Craig, they need to get someone like him who can set the benchmarks.
“He is a fantastic coach. I didn’t fit into the Melbourne culture down there and it was more my fault than Craig Bellamy’s.
“If Craig Bellamy isn’t the coach moving forward, the Titans need someone to drive a culture of accountability.”