The announcement from legendary Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett that he will be leaving the Broncos at the end of 2008 has sparked an interesting thread of
speculation on the future of British coaches by Ian Laybourn on Sporting Life.
After Bennett dropped hints that he is eyeing up a northern hemisphere coaching position, Laybourn linked him with the soon to be vacant St Helens hot seat but, following a comment from the Saints that they had no plans to contact Bennett, the name put on the hypothetical chopping block was that of Wigan coach Brian Noble.
With the Wigan coach in the last year of his contract, a poor season could spell the end. But it would be a different folly for the new Wigan management to immediately follow the example of their predecessors and their liberal attitude to staff turnover. Coupled with the fact that they have one of the most highly rated British coaches around at the helm, it makes his exit most unlikely.
So the pressure inevitably turns up another notch on Warrington coach Paul Cullen.
The longest-serving Super League coach may be working for the most patient board in the sport, but having failed to reach the playoffs last term despite big money signings such as Adrian Morley, Paul Johnson and Vinnie Anderson, a failure to make a big impact this season would surely see his position become untenable.
After spending more money in the close season on high profile signings Matt King, Michael Monaghan, Chris Hicks and Louis Anderson, the Warrington board may start to think about spending its big money on a high profile, successful, coach and paying off the year left on Cullen’s contract.
It is undeniable that Bennett has the silverware laden history that would dazzle the big spending execs at the Wolves. In 21 years at the Broncos, Bennett has won six premierships, with the most recent in 2006, and he guided Queensland to State of Origin victories in 1987, 1988, 1998 and 2001. His only failures in State of Origin came in the drawn 2002 series and the 2-1 defeat in 2003 and the former Australia coach certainly has the winning ability Warrington’s financial power seems to crave.
The only question is whether Cullen can save himself, and failure to reach any finals this term will surely see his luck run out.
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