The NRL has slammed the door shut on Manly’s plan to sign Laurie Daley, while Eels coach Brad Arthur has revealed the players that are in the mix to fill the club’s vacant backrow spot.
Elsewhere, Wayne Bennett has revealed who is the frontrunner for the Dolphins’ captaincy — and the veteran coach also dropped a big hint on his future declaring: “Don’t write me off.”
DALEY’S MANLY MOVE A NO DEAL
The NRL has slammed the door shut on Manly’s plans to add rugby league great Laurie Daley to their coaching staff.
It was revealed over the weekend that the Sea Eagles had put in an official submission to have Daley join the club as a halves coach to work with Josh Schuster.
However, as confirmed by the club, Daley’s job as a co-host on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast is a conflict of interest.
“The NRL has advised Laurie Daley that he cannot be permitted to accept a role as a club official with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles while he engages in other employment with a wagering operator,” a statement read.
“The NRL Code of Conduct prohibits all players, club officials, match officials and administrators from being sponsored, employed, contracted, engaged or otherwise commercially involved in any way with a gambling operator.”
FORMER DRAGON REUNITES WITH BENNETT
Former Dragon Nathan Fien is set to reunite with his old Dragons coach Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins, this time the 43-year-old will be working alongside him as an assistant coach.
The former Maroon won a premiership with Bennett in 2010
Since retiring Fien has taken on coaching roles with Thirroul and Collegians in the Illawarra competition, so when Bennett came calling he admitted it came “a little bit out of the blue”.
While many wouldn’t have picked the former Kiwis representative as the odds on favourite for an NRL assistant coaching role Bennett reportedly handed Fien an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I was very pleasantly surprised and it’s an opportunity to further my coaching career ... and what an opportunity here at the Dolphins,” Fien told reporters after Dolphins training on Monday.
“A lot of coaches get to this level their own way but for me, staying at the local level with Thirroul and Collegians gave me the opportunity to run a squad, manage the day-to-day running of a club and be a mentor to the young guys.
“Wayne has seen something he thought I might be able to bring here and we have that good working relationship from years past.”
Fien admitted Bennett’s influence on him during his Dragons days had rubbed off on his current coaching style, something he’s eager to implement with this new Dolphins side.
“As a player, I probably wasn’t the most skilful guy but when we got down and dirty and crossed that white line it was game on,” Fien added.
“I wanted to try and be that player every player wanted to play with, and if I can get a bit of that into the Dolphins club and into our DNA that will keep us in good stead and competitive in a lot
ARTHUR’S PLAN TO FILL PAPALI’I VOID
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has reportedly revealed four players are in the race to take the vacant backrow spot following the departure of Isaiah Papali’i.
The 24-year-old is one of eight players who departed the club following the 2022 season including Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore and Ray Stone.
Papali’i emerged as one of the NRL’s best backrowers after making the move to Parramatta from the Warriors ahead of the 2021 season and his presence will be sorely missed.
The gun backrower signed a three-year deal with the Tigers worth a reported $1.9 million, leaving Arthur with a huge headache.
Despite losing several regular first graders, Arthur is still confident the Eels can compete with the best and back up their grand final appearance last season according to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio.
“I managed to catch up with Brad Arthur – there isn’t any sense of a hangover,” Riccio said on SEN.
“The Eels have copped their medicine and are ready to go again.
“There are four names that Brad has nominated (to replace) Papali’i.
“Newcastle forward Jirah Momoisea, ex-Raider and Warrior Jack Murchie, former Bulldog Matt Doorey and NSW Cup talent Toni Mataele are in the running for that back-row position.
“We’ve hardly heard of them, but Arthur is confident he’ll get something out of (at least) one of those players.”
Meanwhile, new recruit Josh Hodgson arrived at training early and Riccio is tipping the 33-year-old veteran to make an impact at his new club.
The former Raider suffered a season-ending knee injury at the start of 2022, but will now be a key player for Parramatta after Mahoney’s departure.
“I spoke to Brad about Josh and he’s moved within five minutes of the Eels’ training facility,” Riccio said.
“He was banging down the door to start training. He came a couple of days earlier and has not missed a session.
“The impressive parts already within one week that Brad Arthur has noticed is his ability to bring his teammates together and be a leader of voice.
“He is the clear, dominating voice and player in the middle. If he fires, the Eels won’t miss a beat.”
BENNETT’S COACHING FUTURE AND DOLPHINS CAPTAIN
Wayne Bennett has revealed veteran prop Jesse Bromwich is one of the “two or three guys” he is considering to be the Dolphins’ inaugural captain.
While the Dolphins have missed out on several major targets like Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga and Brandon Smith, Bennett has been able to assemble a forward pack with plenty of experience.
The Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi have joined the expansion club from the Storm, while Jarrod Wallace made the switch from the Titans and Mark Nicholls from the Rabbitohs.
Bennett toldNews Corp that Jesse — the older of the two brothers — is a frontrunner for the captaincy.
“There’s two or three guys I am looking at for the captaincy,” he said.
“I haven’t made a final decision on that yet, it’s still sitting inside my head, but Jesse Bromwich will be in the grand final when I consider a captain.
“He was captain at Melbourne and he has won premierships, he has been a great front-rower and leader for a long time.”
The 33-year-old has 295 NRL games under his belt and has represented New Zealand 34 times. He’s won three premierships with the Storm and was a co-captain of the club for the last two seasons.
Meanwhile, Bennett also conceded that the Dolphins won’t be an overnight success, saying: “It will take a couple of seasons to get ourselves right.”
“I went through this at the Broncos. It took us five years to win our first premiership,” he added.
“There was no time frame then and there’s no time frame now.”
Bennett will coach the Dolphins for their first two seasons before passing the baton to assistant Kristian Woolf.
It was expected the veteran coach would hang up the clipboard following his Dolphins stint given he’ll be 75-years old by the time the 2025 NRL season comes around.
But remarkably, he’s suggested he may coach on.
“Don’t mention retirement with me,” Bennett said.
“If you mention retirement with me, you will do it at your peril.
“I’m not talking about retirement. I’m talking about doing two years and who knows what happens after that.
“I went to South Sydney on a three-year deal and I did my three years.
“But I kept coaching, I’m now at the Dolphins, so don’t start talking about retirement, because it can bite you on the ass.
“If Kristian was a younger coach, I would have done three or four years actually, but he is coming for the right reasons and I don’t want to hold Kristian back. He deserves his chance.
“Anything could happen. I really don’t know what my next role will be.
“I’m not at the retirement stage. I don’t know how I will feel in two years. But I will get these two years done and let’s see what happens after that.
“Just don’t write me off, OK? I can’t give you a better tip than that.”
FORMER BULLDOG RETURNS TO CLUB
Roy Asotasi has returned to he Bulldogs — the club he won the 2004 NRL premiership with.
According to WWOS, Asotasi has joined the Bulldogs’ staff part-time in a mentoring role.
The former New Zealand captain first joined the club as a player in 2002 and played 84 games throughout his Bulldogs tenure.
Following his time at the Dogs, Asotasi moved to the Rabbitohs where he became co-captain of the club, holding onto the title until he left following the 2013 season.
“He made a guest appearance this week and the young guys were in raptures over him,” Bulldogs boss Gould told WWOS.
“He said he’d like to help mentor kids in our Academy program.
“The more the merrier. You can never have too many good people in your football club and it’s great to have him on board.”
