http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/fittler-in-tigers-sights-as-halves-coach-to-make-most-of-youngsters-talents-20130819-2s7c1.html
Wests Tigers are considering hiring a specialist halves' coach to mentor talented youngsters, with Brad Fittler likely to be at the top of their wish list.
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The Tigers are reviewing their coaching structure for next season and will be looking to bolster their staff when they part ways with assistants Royce Simmons, Steve Georgallis and rehabilitation manager Andrew Leeds.
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A priority is to ensure outstanding young playmakers Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and Curtis Sironen have someone for guidance as they establish themselves in the NRL.
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Sironen has already stamped himself as a player of great promise and was one of the teenagers to earn selection in NSW coach Laurie Daley's Blues Origin Pathways camp last November. Whether he plays next season in the halves or the back row could depend on the emergence of Brooks and Moses, who are yet to taste first grade.
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With Benji Marshall heading to the Auckland Blues next year, Tigers officials are looking for an experienced figure to provide tuition to the trio, all graduates of Holy Cross College Ryde.
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''It's something we're looking at,'' Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer confirmed. ''Blocker [former Tigers and Australian forward Steve Roach] has done some work with us this year, from a forwards' point of view, and he may do a bit more next year. One of the things we're looking at is getting a halves' coach as well.
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''We haven't spoken to anyone yet, but it is one of the models we're looking at for next year,'' he said.
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The Tigers already use Damien Hill as a part-time kicking coach, but some at the club want Fittler to come on board.
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The former NSW and Australian captain was one of the game's greatest pivots and has coached the Roosters for more than two seasons at first-grade level.
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The Tigers could also consider Penrith assistant coach Trent Barrett or another former Blues pivot, Matthew Johns. League immortal Andrew Johns has coached halves at several clubs but his contract with Manly precludes working with rival teams.
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Meanwhile, Parramatta have bolstered their squad for next season by signing South Sydney utility back Justin Hunt on a three-year deal. Hunt has played 13 games for the Rabbitohs.
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Souths released him from the final year of his contract to relieve salary cap pressure after extending and upgrading the Burgess brothers' deals.
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''He has served a superb apprenticeship behind some great outside backs like Greg Inglis and Nathan Merritt at Souths, but now he is at a point in his career where he wants to take his game to a new level,'' Eels coach Ricky Stuart said.
Wests Tigers are considering hiring a specialist halves' coach to mentor talented youngsters, with Brad Fittler likely to be at the top of their wish list.
>
The Tigers are reviewing their coaching structure for next season and will be looking to bolster their staff when they part ways with assistants Royce Simmons, Steve Georgallis and rehabilitation manager Andrew Leeds.
>
A priority is to ensure outstanding young playmakers Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses and Curtis Sironen have someone for guidance as they establish themselves in the NRL.
>
Sironen has already stamped himself as a player of great promise and was one of the teenagers to earn selection in NSW coach Laurie Daley's Blues Origin Pathways camp last November. Whether he plays next season in the halves or the back row could depend on the emergence of Brooks and Moses, who are yet to taste first grade.
Advertisement
>
With Benji Marshall heading to the Auckland Blues next year, Tigers officials are looking for an experienced figure to provide tuition to the trio, all graduates of Holy Cross College Ryde.
>
''It's something we're looking at,'' Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer confirmed. ''Blocker [former Tigers and Australian forward Steve Roach] has done some work with us this year, from a forwards' point of view, and he may do a bit more next year. One of the things we're looking at is getting a halves' coach as well.
>
''We haven't spoken to anyone yet, but it is one of the models we're looking at for next year,'' he said.
>
The Tigers already use Damien Hill as a part-time kicking coach, but some at the club want Fittler to come on board.
>
The former NSW and Australian captain was one of the game's greatest pivots and has coached the Roosters for more than two seasons at first-grade level.
>
The Tigers could also consider Penrith assistant coach Trent Barrett or another former Blues pivot, Matthew Johns. League immortal Andrew Johns has coached halves at several clubs but his contract with Manly precludes working with rival teams.
>
Meanwhile, Parramatta have bolstered their squad for next season by signing South Sydney utility back Justin Hunt on a three-year deal. Hunt has played 13 games for the Rabbitohs.
>
Souths released him from the final year of his contract to relieve salary cap pressure after extending and upgrading the Burgess brothers' deals.
>
''He has served a superb apprenticeship behind some great outside backs like Greg Inglis and Nathan Merritt at Souths, but now he is at a point in his career where he wants to take his game to a new level,'' Eels coach Ricky Stuart said.
