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IVAN CLEARY, TODD PAYTEN HEAD THE LIST AS WESTS TIGERS START THE HUNT FOR COACH TO REPLACE AXED JASON TAYLOR
MICHAEL CHAMMAS - SMH
The Wests Tigers believe they can re-sign the big four without knowing who will coach the club next season, as Ivan Cleary firms as the favourite to replace Jason Taylor.
Within an hour of their decision to axe Taylor, the club received four calls from agents putting forward the names of their clients. But the Tigers insist the job is interim coach Andrew Webster's to lose at this
Although the Tigers are backing Webster, who coached Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks through the grades, they will also begin a six-week search that is set to see Todd Payten's name come up alongside former Penrith coach Cleary and even Dogs boss Des Hasler.
The two-time premiership-winner is off contract at Belmore and has the runs on the board over a long period of time. However, the Tigers, who are still paying Robbie Farah $700,000, would need to decide if they can afford his services.
Payten has the backing of the playing group, having forged a strong bond with them during his time at the club before he joined North Queensland as an assistant. He was, however, overlooked as Mick Potter's successor and didn't leave the club on the best of terms — which could work against him.
Still, Payten does have one possible advantage in that his manager, Isaac Moses, is also the agent of star quartet Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, Brooks and Moses. But Fairfax Media understands the club is reluctant to increase Moses' influence at the Tigers given the perception he has held them to ransom over the future of the big four.
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"If any coach, whether it's Todd Payten, Ivan Cleary or anyone else, wants to put their hat in the ring, we'll entertain that within the process," chief executive Justin Pascoe said.
"Andrew would be a part of that mix. We hold Andrew in the highest regard. He's certainly a part of that mix and he's got the opportunity now and it lies with him."
While Woods has previously indicated he wants to know who will be running the side in 2018 before he commits to a deal, Pascoe doesn't believe that is going to be a stumbling block and insists the players won't be consulted.
"No. It's a really clear point — the players do not decide who coaches this organisation," Pascoe said. "There's no defined timeline. We'll follow a formal process and whenever that process comes to a conclusion we'll make everyone aware. There's no timeline — if it takes until the end of the year then it takes until the end of the year. We're more focused on making sure we find the right person for this job."
The Tigers hierarchy met the players after telling Taylor of their decision to sack him, asking them to start taking responsibility for their performances after a horror fortnight that resulted in 34- and 40-point losses to Penrith and Canberra respectively.
"The players have to take responsibility," chair Marina Go said. "We do as an organisation as well. From the board down, we all take responsibility for where we sit today. But the players — we had a conversation with the players this afternoon and they are taking this on board. They're not shying away from the fact they need to step up.
"We obviously had a conversation with Jason this afternoon and clearly he was disappointed — as you'd imagine he would be. It's very difficult news to receive and difficult to deliver. We obviously feel for him. Clearly he was disappointed."
MICHAEL CHAMMAS - SMH
The Wests Tigers believe they can re-sign the big four without knowing who will coach the club next season, as Ivan Cleary firms as the favourite to replace Jason Taylor.
Within an hour of their decision to axe Taylor, the club received four calls from agents putting forward the names of their clients. But the Tigers insist the job is interim coach Andrew Webster's to lose at this
Although the Tigers are backing Webster, who coached Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks through the grades, they will also begin a six-week search that is set to see Todd Payten's name come up alongside former Penrith coach Cleary and even Dogs boss Des Hasler.
The two-time premiership-winner is off contract at Belmore and has the runs on the board over a long period of time. However, the Tigers, who are still paying Robbie Farah $700,000, would need to decide if they can afford his services.
Payten has the backing of the playing group, having forged a strong bond with them during his time at the club before he joined North Queensland as an assistant. He was, however, overlooked as Mick Potter's successor and didn't leave the club on the best of terms — which could work against him.
Still, Payten does have one possible advantage in that his manager, Isaac Moses, is also the agent of star quartet Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, Brooks and Moses. But Fairfax Media understands the club is reluctant to increase Moses' influence at the Tigers given the perception he has held them to ransom over the future of the big four.
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"If any coach, whether it's Todd Payten, Ivan Cleary or anyone else, wants to put their hat in the ring, we'll entertain that within the process," chief executive Justin Pascoe said.
"Andrew would be a part of that mix. We hold Andrew in the highest regard. He's certainly a part of that mix and he's got the opportunity now and it lies with him."
While Woods has previously indicated he wants to know who will be running the side in 2018 before he commits to a deal, Pascoe doesn't believe that is going to be a stumbling block and insists the players won't be consulted.
"No. It's a really clear point — the players do not decide who coaches this organisation," Pascoe said. "There's no defined timeline. We'll follow a formal process and whenever that process comes to a conclusion we'll make everyone aware. There's no timeline — if it takes until the end of the year then it takes until the end of the year. We're more focused on making sure we find the right person for this job."
The Tigers hierarchy met the players after telling Taylor of their decision to sack him, asking them to start taking responsibility for their performances after a horror fortnight that resulted in 34- and 40-point losses to Penrith and Canberra respectively.
"The players have to take responsibility," chair Marina Go said. "We do as an organisation as well. From the board down, we all take responsibility for where we sit today. But the players — we had a conversation with the players this afternoon and they are taking this on board. They're not shying away from the fact they need to step up.
"We obviously had a conversation with Jason this afternoon and clearly he was disappointed — as you'd imagine he would be. It's very difficult news to receive and difficult to deliver. We obviously feel for him. Clearly he was disappointed."
