Like most other rugby league fans, I wasn’t really surprised with the headline on Tuesday’s TV bulletin that said  ’Dragons appoint new Head Coach’.  Although I was stunned by the followup of ‘Brian Goorjian signed for 3 years’.  Now that would be interesting.

I have met Goorjian, the best coach currently in the NBL and the most accomplished coach the Boomers have had since losing the Gold Medal game at the 1996 Olympics.  And wouldn’t it be an interesting experiment if Goorjian were to take on the coaching role with an NRL team, or if someone like Kevin Sheedy were appointed to the Australian Cricket Team?

Certainly be much more interesting than the tepid and predictable coaching roundabout we see every year.

  

At Tuesday’s news conference introducing Wayne Bennett as the new coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons, it must have felt humiliating for Nathan Brown to be standing alongside CEO Peter Doust as he talked about how great it was to have an elite coach and how much professionalism and respect Bennett would bring to the club.

These all seemed to be backhanded insults at Brown, who (and most people forget this) turned his back on bigger bucks during the Super League War to stay loyal to the Dragons a decade ago.  As a result he has endured continual criticism via the News Ltd press throughout his 6 years as coach of the joint venture club.  And whilst his time in charge of the Dragons has been defined by frequent injuries, persistent loss of juinors to other clubs and a consistent inability to win finals football, Brown has nontheless displayed a level of humility and class.  He hasn’t become bitter, he hasn’t burned bridges, he hasn’t stopped publically admitting that yes he has a lot to learn and his team a lot of improving to do.  And these characteristics will serve the 34 year old in good stead in his coaching future, whether it be at this club, or elsewhere.

For St George, it’s difficult to imagine this daring move not being a good one for their always-talented but often-fragile outfit.  Bennett will immediately put some respect and steel back into their reputation, and expect everything to be different once he arrives; including how St George are treated by the referees.  Whilst the Saints players were undeniably happier playing for Brown than they were under either of his predecessors David Waite or Andrew Farrar, they weren’t nearly as successful.   So it will be interesting to see how much longer Brown keeps his ‘nice guy’ persona as he spends time under one of the NRL’s most ascerbic and successful coaches.

In many ways, Bennett’s decision to leave Brisbane for the money and opportunity offered by a glamour ARL club (first the Roosters 2 years ago and now the Dragons) is difficult to reconcile with his reputation as staunch loyalist and embodiment of the Queensland spirit.  Part of Wayne Bennett’s myth is that the usual rules don’t apply; the rule that coaches should talk openly with the media (seemingly broken on a weekly basis during his reign at the Broncos), the rule that coaches put their team above their players (broken with vindictive the Justin Hodges saga, among others) and of course the rule that coaches will always go elsewhere for more money or better prospects.

Bennett’s reputation as an elite tactician has been able to withstand the occasional tremblings, such as when he failed in the easiest coaching job in the world of rugby league at the Kangaroos in 2005, and despite being repeatedly out-manoeuvered at State of Origin level, where he has lost more games than any other coach.  Now he has another challenge, because as exciting as the young playing talent at the Dragons is, Bennett will soon find that Saints fans behave very differently to the sychophants and apologists who pervade his former home town.

By first approaching, then this week officially signing with, St George Illawarra, Bennett has proven himself to be as selfish, flawed and hypocritical as every other professional sportsman.  Does that make him a bad person?  No, of course not.  But does it mean he no longer commands any moral high ground in the greedy moden-day struggle for cash and personal reward.  Absolutely.

Onto the footy tips; 

Fri 7:30 - Cant vs Easts - Ch 9 Live
The game is being promoted as the Grudge Match of the Season, despite the other Friday night game possibly having more at stake.  The media hype around Canterbury going up against Easts coach Ricky Stuart and their 4 former players is intense, despite there hardly being any Bulldogs left who played with Nate Myles, let alone Braith Anasta.  And if the Dogs performed with all this presumed extra effort, desire and passion every time they went up against former players like Roy Asotasi and Nigel Vagana at Souths, Jonathan Thurston and Ben Harris at Nth Qld, or Steven Price at the Warriors, they would just about never lose.  Roosters.

Fri 7:30 - Melb vs Bris - Ch 9 Delay
Do these 2 teams love or hate each other?  We’ll find out tomorrow night, as the undefeated Broncos roll into Melbourne intent on avenging their first-round finals thrashing last September.  Brisbane poached Storm wunderkind Israel Folau at the start of this week (subsequently overshadowed by other transactions), which suggested a new chapter in their growing rivalry.  However, if other Storm players and staff are also planning on following him to the Broncos in 2009 and 2010, as is being rumored, then maybe this match won’t have much venom afterall.  Even against the mighty Broncos, can Melbourne really lose 3 in a row?  Storm.

Sat 5:30 - SGIl vs Cron - Fox Sports Live
Not sure if you noticed, but all the home teams won last week.  Yep, 8 from 8.  So despite the Dragons being as brittle, mistake-prone and inconsistent as ever, if I were to tip against them it would mean I’d be picking 2 of 3 away winners to start round 4.  That’s highly unlikely, despite this match being played at the virtually neutral Olympic Stadium.  So if they are to prevail, the Saints must capitalise on a Sharks pack that is down yet another key forward thanks to this week’s suspension of enforcer Paul Gallen.  Their highly regarded (and paid) backline is capable of doing serious damage if given enough room to run the ball.  Dragons. 

Sat 7:30 - GCst vs Canb - Fox Sports Live
Now that Neil Henry has made a name for himself (kind of) at Canberra, it is off to greener pastures elsewhere in the Super League network thanks very much, just like Craig Bellamy before him (and of course Bennett before him).  Does Henry’s 5 year contract with the Cowboys, signed this week, suggest that he may drop the intensity and preparation that made him so effective in the first place?  Even sub-consciously, it’s a risk.  Gold Coast are a load at home at the best of times, so it would be a huge upset if the Raiders were to come away with the goods in spite of what must be a challenging week mentally, for all their players.  Titans. 

Sat 9:30 - NQld vs Parra - Fox Sports Live
Speaking of coaching changes, in addition to Nathan Brown, North Queensland’s Graham Murray appears to a man without a chair once the music stops.  Just what he did wrong (apart from being a New South Welshman, of course) isn’t exactly clear, as Murray was rumoured to be on the way out well before the Cowboys started the season with 3 straight losses.  Now the uncertainty is over, his team can get down to playing football, with the Eels vulnerable thanks to the flaws in their backline defense exposed last Friday night against Newcastle.  A newly confident NQld may run them off the park in the sultry, tropical conditions.  Cowboys.

Sun 2:00 - NZWr vs Newc - Fox Sports Live
Round 4 started with some tricky games but from Sunday onwards they look much more straightforward.   But an initial impression that the Warriors should win at home becomes less convincing when you consider they’re backing up from that tough defeat on Monday night whilst the Knights have had 9 days to prepare.  But for Nathan Cayless’ calm but nontheless ridiculous field goal last Friday at Parramatta Stadium, Newcastle would be undefeated this season - just months after almost finishing with last year’s wooden spoon.  Ivan Cleary must overcome Newcastle’s tight, physical approach in order to dominate the tempo for this match.  Warriors.

Sun 4:00 - Manl vs SSyd - Ch 9 Delay
When they’re at their competitive best, Manly make their for-and-against look good by playing close games against good sides and thrashing opponents down on form or confidence.  So the Bunnies head to Brookvale in serious trouble after losing last weekend against fellow-strugglers Penrith.  Souths’ mis-firing defense will be given a serious test by the confident Manly backline, which includes Jamie Lyon back in the centers.  Manly played so well in smashing the Warriors on Monday that, despite a pair of sub-par efforts to open the season, Matt Orford was being touted by Des Hasler as the best halfback in NSW.  Seriously.  Sea Eagles. 

Mon 7:00 - WsTg vs Penr - Fox Sports Live
Each week in the Mx afternoon metropolitan newspaper, Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah gives his footy tips, and in doing so often reveals the mood within his team.  For instance, in commenting on last weekend’s clash against the Bulldogs, Farah used the work ‘hopefully’ twice; in hindsight, this was a clear indication of the lack of confidence and assurance the Tigers ultimately played with.  This week, despite Farah’s own back complaint being the latest in Wests’ ongoing list of injuries, you’d have to imagine his language is a lot more positive in front of what promises to be a huge crowd at Campbelltown against the tackle-shy Panthers.  Tigers.

Mattus’ Tips 2008 : 10/24
Home Teams 2008 : 18/24

Good luck.