Gary Hetherington, just issued the annual statement.



Very long, but really nothing new to report.

the fact he is going to Australia fules out any candidates over here imo

Tells me that he knows we need a new direction and that will come from Aus. Needs to be someone with NRL Head Coach experience or someone who has been learning from a legend like Bennett or Bellamy.



This is the most important decision that GH will make during his entire Leeds tenure. Get it wrong and you throw away everything that he’s worked so hard for.

Agreed. A trip to Australia is a statement of how seriously he is taking this.



Here's hoping we manage to do better than last time. With the benefit of hindsight the Leeds connection with Furner during his time with us as a player and his past comradeship with members of the Golden Generation probably clouded the decision too much to the point we overlooked his time in charge at Canberra. We need a good technical coach who can pick up things quickly with the current squad, get the experienced players to perform, and work on developing some of the younger players in the longer-term, whilst buying into the Leeds culture. Any old NRL assistant won't do!

Can he dupe Thompson into taking a trip home and bring home a nice present?

I’m thinking a Thompson Thompson swap

Good statement and it was needed. I like that he’s going to Australia to personally speak to candidates. Big big decision this one which he has to get right. I get the sense he’s rather annoyed with the current situation.

Yeah I agree with that. Seems that he knows it too, I think the appointment might shock a few when they announce it, I think they’ll go big.



Names I’m seeing linked who are over in Australia, Michael Monaghan, Ryan Carr, Cameron Ciraldo, Rohan Smith, Stephen Kearney and Mark O’Meley. However, tonight I was sent a name that hasn’t been mentioned at all, John Morris.

Where`s Morris coaching Frostie?

I believe he’s on the coaching staff of South Sydney under Jason Demetriou.

Cheers mate.

Bit of a rookie maybe?

Morris coached the Sharks for a couple of years after Flanagan left. I'm not sure he did a great job but he'll probably be hungry for another NRL head coaching gig. That sort of coach is what we need I think - young enough to be ambitious but not lacking experience. I have no problem at all with them seeing Leeds as a proving ground to get an NRL role.



There will be a bunch of assistants around who might be willing to go to England, but its an odd time of year. The only other option would be a former coach who's out of a job like Flanagan. But they can be hit and miss as well - there's generally a reason why they're not coaching.