A man who ticks three vital boxes shapes as the dark horse in the race for the Wests Tigers coaching job following the sacking of Michael Maguire.
While the usual suspects like Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo, St Helens coach Kristian Woolf and out of work coaches Shane Flanagan and Paul Green have been mentioned, there is support growing for former Cronulla mentor John Morris.
Morris has shown he can get teams to the finals – something no Tigers coach has managed in over a decade – he is close to the club’s head of football Tim Sheens and he is a former Tigers player.
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Morris is currently working as Jason Demetriou’s assistant at South Sydney.
“He’s a guy who is well regarded in the club and will come into consideration for sure,” a Tigers source told Wide World of Sports.
Ciraldo looms as the Tigers’ first choice – but he is unlikely to leave his job as Ivan Cleary’s right hand man at Penrith for the struggling Tigers.
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TOUGH DECISION FACING BURGESS
Those close to Sam Burgess tell me he is leaning towards the Dolphins as he weighs up the biggest decision of his life post-playing.
Both the Rabbitohs and Dolphins are keen to get Burgess on their coaching team and both have plenty to offer.
Complicating matters is the fact that Burgess is great mates with both Souths owner Russell Crowe and Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett.
But with Bennett nearing the end of his coaching days, the pathway is there for Burgess to eventually land himself a head coaching gig in a couple of years – and learn under the master coach in the meantime.
TITANS SHAKE UP COACHING RANKS
The Titans have parted ways with their women’s coach, former Bulldog Jamie Feeney.
He has been replaced by Jillaroos legend and former NRL integrity unit member Karyn Murphy.
Feeney enjoyed his time in the role but the Titans have made it a full-time job and that left him with a difficult decision.
“I already have a good gig up here at Marsden Sports High School so I reluctantly will be leaving the club,” Feeney told Wide World of Sports.
FLYING FIJIAN READY TO RETURN
Maika Sivo proved he is ready to return to the big league after a stunning performance for the Eels in NSW Cup against Mounties on Friday night.
The cult hero Fijian, on the comeback from a knee reconstruction, was dynamic in only his third game of the year.
Sivo scored three tries, had 19 runs for 253 run metres and made four line breaks and nine tackle busts.
The Eels have sorely missed the flying Fijian and will welcome him back for the run into the finals.
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