Brothers in line to coach Warriors
A left-field option has emerged in the race to be the next head coach of the Warriors.
Chief executive Cameron George confirmed the Kiwi club has held talks with coaching siblings Ben and Shane Walker and are in the frame to fill the role left vacant by Stephen Kearney’s sacking.
‘‘The Walker brothers bring a lot to the table as coaches and we are leaving no stone unturned,’’ George told NRL.com.
‘‘They bring a number of attributes to the game that are refreshing, innovative and certainly could enhance our individual players’ talent.’’
The former NRL players have yet to coach in the NRL but have been linked to several clubs in recent years after finding success with the Ipswich Jets at Queensland Cup level on the back of a unique style of attack.
Known as ‘contract football’, the philosophy centres around passing the ball to a team-mate in a better position, with an emphasis on support play and maintaining possession for as long as possible.
The result is an expansive, offthe-cuff brand of football which took Ipswich to Intrust Super Cup and State Championship glory in 2015, as well as six finals appearances in nine years.
It could be a good fit with the Warriors, once known as the NRL’s great entertainers whose attack has fallen away over the last two seasons.
The 13th-placed Warriors, who continue their campaign against the ninth-placed Sharks tomorrow, have the second-worst ranked attack this year, scoring a total of 117 points in the first nine rounds, at just 13 points per game.
The Walker brothers are one of several candidates expected to interview for the job, including interim coach Todd Payten. However, many high-profile names have already ruled themselves out of contention, such as Melbourne coach Craig
What: When, where:
NRL, Warriors v Sharks Tomorrow 4pm (NZ time), Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast
Warriors:
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, David Fusitu’a Patrick Herbert, Peta Hiku, Ken Maumalo, Kodi Nikorima, Blake Green, Jamayne TaunoaBrown, Wayde Egan, Adam Blair, Eliesa Katoa, Tohu Harris, Karl Lawton. Interchange (from): Agnatius Paasi, Jack Hetherington, Isaiah Papali’i, Jazz Tevaga, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jack Murchie, Lachlan Burr, Adam Pompey.
Josh Dugan, Sione Katoa, Bryson Goodwin, Jesse Ramien, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend, Braden HamlinUele, Blayke Brailey, Aaron Woods, Briton Nikora, Wade Graham, Toby Rudolf. Interchange (from): Connor Tracey, Scott Sorensen, Siosifa Talakai, Royce Hunt, Jack Williams, Billy Magoulias, Will Kennedy, Nene Macdonald.
Bellamy, South Sydney mentor Wayne Bennett and former Newcastle coach Nathan Brown.
The club has assembled a selection panel made up of George, owner Mark Robinson, chairman Rob Croot and Warriors legend Simon Mannering.
■ The Warriors have already told a couple of players to look elsewhere next season but Peta Hiku is determined not to join that list.
The 27-year-old centre is among a dozen players off-contract at the end of the season who are essentially playing for their futures in the coming weeks – be it at the Warriors or for another club.
The typically laid-back Hiku said confirmation of Blake Green and Gerard Beale’s departure at the end of the year had not caused him to fret about his situation. There has also been reports casting doubt on Adam Blair, who has an option in his favour next year, and Isaiah Papali’i’s future at the Warriors.
That’s not to say it hasn’t ‘‘always in the back of the mind,’’ with Hiku expressing a desire to remain at the Auckland club.
‘‘It is a business at the end of the day,’’ Hiku said.
‘‘I’m here at the moment, I’d love to stay and at the moment I’m playing for my country, my family and everything here.’’
His task against the Sharks tomorrow should be aided by the return of five-eighth Kodi Nikorima and boom back-rower Eliesa Katoa on the left edge.
Katoa had been the shining light of the Warriors’ season prior to missing the last three games due to an ankle injury.
Before then, Hiku has another, more important, reunion to attend as his partner, Lisa, and two sons join him in camp on the NSW Central Coast today. ‘‘I’m pretty excited to see my two little boys and my partner,’’ Hiku said.
Sharks: