The Parramatta Eels are drawing up their shortlist for the head coaching position vacated by the axed Brad Arthur, and one name expected to be on that list is attracting particular attention: current New South Wales coach Michael Maguire.
Maguire is now less than a week away from guiding the Blues in his maiden State of Origin clash – and signed a two-year deal with the state – but is believed to be keen on a return to full-time coaching with an NRL club.
Unlike Queensland mentor Billy Slater, who firmly shut down any talk of taking on the hot seat in Parramatta, Maguire has not responded to the ongoing speculation linking him to the Eels gig.
Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, News Corp’s Michael Carayannis said: “The (Eels) board meeting’s happening right now. I think after that they’ll finalise that shortlist. I daresay that (current interim coach) Trent Barrett will be given an opportunity to interview for the job. The other names are ones that we’ve all heard.
“It’s a scheduled board meeting. As part of that, naturally you’re going to discuss who the coach is going to be.”
The Eels have convened a subcommittee that will interview the prospective head coaches then make recommendations to the board.
According to Carayannis, the shortlist is likely to include Barrett, Michael Maguire, Melbourne Storm assistant coach Jason Ryles, Sharks and Maroons assistant Josh Hannay, and potentially a left-field option like former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who has experience coaching rugby league as a Roosters assistant and Lebanon head coach.
Barrett was yesterday asked if he will apply for the full-time role, replying: “Look, again, I haven’t thought about it … I just need to prepare the team as best we can and those sorts of things will look after themselves.”
But James Hooper said that the return of star playmaker Mitchell Moses and captain Clint Gutherson could spark a return to winning ways for the Eels – and boost Barrett’s hopes of getting the job moving forward.
Hooper said: “Baz is a competitor, so I’ve got no doubt whatsoever – we’ve seen previously he took Manly to the finals then he spent some time in Canterbury-Bankstown where it went pear-shaped – I’ve got no doubt the competitor that beats inside Trent Barrett, he’s going to be thinking: ‘Now I’ve got my best players back, if I can get this time to go on a run that’s as good a claim as I can stake.’”
Braith Anasta said: “The reality is he needs to be very successful with this team over the next two months.”
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Ahead of him in the likely pecking order of potential signings is Storm assistant Jason Ryles, who is highly regarded in rugby league circles but is effectively waiting on current head coach Craig Bellamy to retire in order to step up to the top job in Melbourne.
Carayannis added: “I think Jason Ryles is the frontrunner. There’s been lots of talk around Michael Maguire but I think Jason Ryles … you can’t wait for Craig Bellamy.”
Anasta was full of praise for the up-and-coming coach, saying: “Rylesy is ready. I’m a big fan of him. I played with him, played against him. I watched him be an assistant at Melbourne and the Roosters. I think he’s ready. I think they’ll do well if they have him but I mean – (when it comes to who they pick) I wouldn’t have a clue!”
