NRL 2023: Which coaches are under the most pressure?
It might not be the most pleasant thing to talk about, but coaching changes are commonplace in the NRL, and there are certainly some bosses feeling the heat that’s approaching the season.
After some disappointing results last year, four clubs will head into 2023 with a new manager, with Anthony Seibold and Tim Sheens set to return to the fray.
But while many clubs have made the necessary changes, there are others who will go into the year with a lot of uncertainty and question marks about their jobs.
The sports news has compiled a ranking of which coaches are under the most pressure ahead of the new season.
1. Justin Holbrook – Titans of the Gold Coast
If there’s one coach who would feel the heat before the start of 2023, it’s undoubtedly Justin Holbrook. After a solid first year at the top, Gold Coast declined last year to finish in the bottom four. Holbrook’s spine dilemma has been addressed somewhat with the additions of Kieran Foran and Sam Verrills, but there’s not much to get excited about for the Titans’ return to the top-8. Towards the end of 2022, reports circulated that Holbrook was on the outside, facing the sack, but he’s come through another preseason and will be given another opportunity. Gold Coast’s draw earlier in the year is on the weak side – two meetings with the Dragons, one with the Tigers and a bye – and given Holbrook needs results fast, wins are absolutely crucial to saving his job. Some good performances in the trials can help Holbrook’s cause, but at the beginning of the year he’s still hot for him.
RATED PRESSURE: 9/10
2. Adam O’Brien – Newcastle Knights
Fans and pundits alike were surprised to see Adam O’Brien survive the ax after a vicious 2022 campaign for the Knights. With injuries like Kalyn Ponga, off-field leaks and on-field explosions from coaches, it’s been a disastrous season for Newcastle and there’s not much excitement about their fate this year. Jackson Hastings will take the reins at halfback, but other than that, their recruiting has been solid at best and O’Brien will likely only have a few months to salvage his job. Given that he took over the Knights job towards the end of a rebuild under Nathan Brown and the club is now in a worse spot than it was three years ago, O’Brien finds himself on thin ice in the Hunter region.
RATED PRESSURE: 8.5/10
3. Anthony Griffin – St George Illawarra Dragons
Conversation over Anthony Griffin’s future has heated up again heading into the 2023 campaign. After earning a new one-year extension before the start of last season, Griffin seemed secure and had the Red V primed for a finals berth until the wheels fell off in the final six weeks of the year. With his contract expiring at the end of this season and many wise judges telling the Dragons they’ll miss the finals again, the pressure is on Griffin to turn things around. After the first two months of this year with a relatively easy schedule, if the team doesn’t finish in the top eight in the first rounds, it could be time to move on.
RATED PRESSURE: 8/10
4.Kevin Walters – Brisbane Broncos
That’s a tough one – Kevin Walters is a great Broncos and has a fantastic squad capable of fighting for a Premiership but has divided the gaming group due to his old-school mentality. Selwyn Cobbo and Tyson Gamble have both publicly criticized Walters and his coaching style, while on-field inconsistency was a major concern for Brisbane in 2022. Walters is out of contract at the end of the year, which puts him in the immediate spotlight and he’s hoping their star-studded roster can produce results to earn him an extension.
RATED PRESSURE: 6/10
5. Anthony Seibold – Male sea eagles
After a terrible tenure in charge of the Broncos and a messy exit, Anthony Seibold will return to the coaching ranks this season and be immediately tasked with turning Manly around. Following the Pride jersey drama and the controversial departure of Des Hasler, Seibold must now pick up the pieces and clean up the mess left in his wake. There are always question marks and concerns about Tom Trbojevic and his fitness, and given how important he is to the Sea Eagles, Seibold will pray the superstar full-back can play 20+ games. His coaching credentials and methods have also been questioned, and when he can’t quickly turn Manly around, the blowtorch is used on Seibold.
RATED PRESSURE: 6/10
6. Tim Sheens – West Tigers
What’s old is new again in 2023 when the Tigers bring back legendary mentor Tim Sheens and club favorite Benji Marshall in a new long-term coaching partnership. Sheens has added some fantastic talent to the Tigers squad, including David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i and Api Koroisau, all making up a star-studded forward pack. With the massive changes in the coaching staff and roster, Sheens is under massive pressure to turn things around immediately and turn the Tigers back into a finals team for the first time in over a decade.
RATED PRESSURE: 5.5/10
7. Andrew Webster – New Zealand warriors
It’s hard to put too much pressure on a rookie coach in your first year with a struggling club – but the Warriors are desperate for some success and it may not come immediately. A three-year deal gives Webster some measure of job security, but with the side finishing in the bottom four last year and not making any major improvements to their squad, the pressure could come into play by the end of 2022.
RATED PRESSURE: 5/10
8. Ricky Stuart – Canberra Raiders
One of the competition’s most experienced coaches, Ricky Stuart found himself under pressure midway through last season as the Raiders languished outside the top-8. Their late-season entry into the finals and a shock at Melbourne kept the club legend out of the Heat for a while, but the club hope the Green Machine can continue to improve in 2023. Stuart’s contract for the next three seasons gives him reassurance but his lengthy tenure at the club has yet to earn him a premiership.
RATED PRESSURE: 5/10
9. Craig Fitzgibbon – Cronulla Sharks
After a great first year as NRL head coach, Craig Fitzgibbon is hoping to keep Cronulla back in the Premiership race in 2023. There isn’t much pressure on Fitzgibbon and he appears to be the best long-term option as a manager. There are some difficult decisions for the Roosters legend this season, particularly in defence, but the Sharks have a balanced roster and should be there or there again.
RATED PRESSURE: 4.5/10
10. Brad Arthur – Parramatta Eels
It’s hard to imagine Brad Arthur being under too much pressure considering he guided the Eels to the Grand Finals last season and the side have been a Finals fixture for many years. That being said, the departures of some key players could force Parramatta to change their playing style and could see them fall back toward the top-8 refrigerator. Arthur’s coaching future and contract always seem to come up for discussion when the Eels aren’t winning games, so the pressure could come if they drop out of the top-8. Overall, though, it’s hard to see him getting the boot so soon after a big final gig.
RATED PRESSURE: 4.5/10
11. Jason Demetriou – South Sydney Rabbitohs
After finally taking on a head coaching role last year, Jason Demetriou did a very solid job with the Rabbitohs, guiding them to yet another Prelim Finals. The rookie mentor had his challenges – losing many key players and treating Latrell Mitchell’s injury woes – but was able to time South Sydney’s run to the playoffs. Demetriou is expected to lead the Bunnies in the long term but the club must be wary of settling for losing the pre-finals and should be aiming for Premier League glory in the years to come.
RATED PRESSURE: 3.5/10
12. Cameron Ciraldo – Canterbury Bulldogs
While there is certainly a level of pressure to be a rookie NRL head coach, Cameron Ciraldo won’t feel his job is really under threat after signing a five-year deal with Canterbury. That being said, the Bulldogs have missed the Finals in the last six seasons and the club’s fans are screaming for success. There are many expectations on Ciraldo’s shoulders to turn things around, especially with a talented base and some key off-season recruits.
RATED PRESSURE: 3.5/10
13.Todd Payten-North Queensland Cowboys
It’s taken time, but Todd Payten has proven he’s the right man to lead the Cowboys long-term. After setting some high standards early in his tenure and sparking some controversy with his comments, Payten sided with him in 2022 just ahead of a major final and it’s clear North Queensland are clearly a club on the rise.
RATED PRESSURE: 3/10
14. Trent Robinson – Sydney Roosters
There’s no real danger that Trent Robinson will ever lose the Roosters’ top job, especially after signing a long-term extension that will see him stay in office until 2028. However, the Tricolors have had a few lean years for their standards and the club would like Robinson to rectify that this season.
RATED PRESSURE: 2/10
15. Craig Bellamy – Melbourne Storm
One of the greatest managers of modern times, Craig Bellamy has a star-studded squad at Melbourne and an outstanding record that cannot be questioned. The only problem for the 63-year-old is his future as Bellamy’s contract runs from year to year. If this will be his last year, he will aim high.
NOMINAL PRESSURE: 1/10
15. Ivan Cleary – Penrith Panther
There is absolutely no pressure on Ivan Cleary and there shouldn’t be. Two consecutive premierships and a squad that has the potential to challenge the next decade.
RATED PRESSURE: 0/10