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16 March 2003 Rabbitohs give Dogs a fright The Bulldogs got the points but a brave South Sydney won the hearts of more than 40,000 fans last night after falling agonisingly short of springing a remarkable upset. Ten days after the sacking of coach Craig Coleman, the Rabbitohs pushed the premiership favourites to the limit in a performance certain to have enhanced Paul Langmack's prospects of landing the job permanently. Playing without luck early, Souths trailed 16-2 midway through the first half and 22-10 seven minutes after the interval. But they got within two points of snatching a win late in the match after a 71st minute Justin Smith try. Souths got off to the worst possible start when five-eighth Owen Craigie failed to find touch from an opening- minute penalty, and Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri scored from a Braith Anasta cross-field kick before they received possession again. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/15/1047583744421.html PAUL Langmack took an almighty leap toward securing the Souths coaching position on a fulltime basis after the Rabbitohs overcame a horror pre-season to almost shock the Bulldogs last night. The Bulldogs may have left Telstra Stadium with an eight-point victory, but the backslappers and media converged on the Rabbitohs dressing-room after a stirring performance from a team given 20.5 start on FootyTAB. A proud Rabbitohs president George Piggins stopped short of saying Langmack had the job for the rest of the year, but could not hide his admiration for the interim coach. "He definitely didn't do himself any harm," Piggins said. "Tonight he's come through with flying colours. "There's no doubt Paul Langmack has a football brain. You sit there and watch him on the computers and doing his stats on other sides and all that. "He only had a little over a week to work with them and their mental condition was enormous. Every one of them stuck to their guns and tried hard. We didn't get two points, but the effort's been much better." After two weeks of fall-out after the sacking of coach Craig Coleman, Souths fans must have feared the worst when their team fell behind 16-2 after 19 minutes. But in a display of grit, sprinkled with skill, the Rabbitohs clawed their way back into the contest and trailed 28-26 late on. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6135643%255E2771,00.html 14 March 2003 He has the credentials but there are a few question marks over Souths' new coach, writes Brad Walter. Hate him, love him ... don't know? Paul Langmack isn't talking. Not publicly, anyway. The former Footy Show star and host of the Yesterday's Hero segment on 2KY's Big Sports Breakfast has declined to appear on either program this week. Regarded in rugby league circles as something of a "motormouth", Langmack has been strangely quiet since his appointment as interim South Sydney coach in the wake of Craig Coleman's sacking. When approached by the Herald, the former Test back-rower said he wanted to keep a low profile in the lead-up to his coaching debut at Telstra Stadium tonight against the Bulldogs, the club he played for in the 1984 grand final while still at school. Langmack, who played 320 first-grade games during a long and successful career, has no shortage of admirers for his tactical knowledge but few appear willing to identify themselves as close friends. "Ambitious" was a word that came up repeatedly when people were contacted about him. "Immature", "self-centred" and "selfish" were others. Many former coaches, officials and teammates were reluctant to comment. Yet almost universally they agreed that Langmack, 36, possessed a good football brain. Mark Levy, a former Penrith chief executive and Langmack's history teacher some 25 years ago at Fairfield Patrician Brothers, said: "He was a likeable rogue, and always very chatty. But he was an incredibly smart footballer." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/14/1047583706839.html 14 March 2003 South Sydney's existence is under threat with fellow foundation club Newtown demanding the repayment of a $300,000 loan. Newtown will today send a letter of demand to Souths giving the Rabbitohs seven days to pay the complete sum or be wound up. Liquidators Ferriers Hodgson have been engaged to act for Newtown. Newtown claim the debt from the Rabbitohs is three years overdue and are angered at the South Sydney Juniors entering a team in the NSW Rugby League's Jim Beam Cup, a feeder competition to the NRL. Newtown claim this is duplication in a shrinking demographic area at a time when league is attempting to rationalise costs. They have also accused interim Souths coach Paul Langmack of asking five-eighth Toufic Nicholas to play for the juniors and ordering Souths-contracted players Brett Sheehan and Scott McLean to quit the Jets. Souths president George Piggins said the juniors saved the club $500,000 by having a team in the competition. "Our obligation is with our juniors," Piggins said. "They've put a side in a bit late and it's sad that it's affected Newtown. We'd like to sit down with Newtown and work things out ... If Newtown demand the money so be it. But it won't wind up our leagues club." Piggins said he thought a scheme of repayment had been put in place to reduce the debt by $6000 a month but Newtown officials insist the debt is overdue. John Singleton, lifetime patron of the Jets, said: "The Newtown players signed a pact in blood to stick together rather than drift over to Souths and I did the same thing in blue ink with my fellow directors to ensure Newtown survives." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/13/1047431154471.html 13 March 2003 South Sydney was being run like a bad business and the NRL club should have replaced Craig Coleman a year ago, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett said. In a stinging attack on the management of the Rabbitohs, Bennett said Souths chairman George Piggins and his board had left the club in a "messy" position. "Well, if you've got a business and you run it like South Sydney you won't have it for long," Bennett said at a sports lunch in Brisbane. "They knew a long time ago that Craig shouldn't probably have been the coach but they just weren't strong enough to make the decision they should have made. "Now that they've made it, it's very, very messy and a very difficult time in the season ahead of them because it's just at the end of the pre-season." Bennett, responding to a question from the audience about Coleman's recent sacking, said Piggins and his board had been indecisive. Coleman was axed last week after the club suffered three lopsided pre-season defeats, with his former assistant Paul Langmack currently in the hot seat in an interim capacity. "The worst offender in the whole deal has been the club itself - the board and the chairman," Bennett said. "They should have made the right decision 12 months ago (about Coleman)." Piggins was unconcerned, saying Bennett was "entitled to his opinion and it doesn't really bug me". Asked what he thought of Bennett's remarks, Piggins said: "I think we're doing a fair job". "I'd like to see (the Broncos) with our finances and see how they'd go. "It's alright for people in glass houses - they've got a big area up there, they've got plenty of players. "If we had have took action against Craig Coleman last year and sacked him, he would have sued and got the second year. "We would have had to pay him out then and there and it probably would have pushed us into insolvency." Piggins said he and the current board weren't to blame for employing Coleman or the playing roster that took Souths back into the NRL last season. "The board that is there (at Souths) at the moment wasn't responsible for picking Craig Coleman as the coach," Piggins said. "They inherited him, they inherited all the players that were signed by (former chief executive Paul) Dunn and (former consultant Phil) Gould. "I mean, who's to blame? They can turn around and blame me, but there were eight other directors there. "Some of the people who were choosing those positions weren't my choice." http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?ArticleID=4822 Interim South Sydney coach Paul Langmack has called on a handful of rugby league legends as he looks to restore some pride back in the red and green jersey. George Piggins, Bob McCarthy, Paul Sait, Ivan Jones, Gary Stevens and Ray Branighan addressed the Rabbitohs players on Monday night, telling them what it meant to play for the famous Redfern club. The sextet also presented the first grade side for Saturday's match against the Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium with their jerseys. "They're a bit down in the dumps with all the publicity they have been getting and I think all they need is a bit of a kick along," McCarthy said. "We have all these great players living in the area. If you have resources why not use them. "When we played we were surrounded by champions. If (Clive) Churchill wasn't in the dressing room, Chic Cowie or someone else was. You didn't want to let those people down. "A tap on the shoulder might be just the thing they need. I know when I was playing, just the thought of losing made me physically sick. That's the way it has to be." http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?ArticleID=4821 11 March 2003 Owen gets groove back Owen Craigie is one of the first players to benefit from the appointment of interim coach Paul Langmack at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Langmack has reinstated Craigie as his first choice five-eighth for this Saturday's opening clash against the Bulldogs. Craigie had been battling to keep his weight down and previous Souths' coach Craig Coleman had dropped him from the trial matches, insisting he would not play until his weight was below 100 kilos. Craigie is said to have lost six kilograms and will partner Willie Peters in the halves against the Bulldogs. The double-header match will be the first time Peters – an off-season recruit from St George Illawarra - has officially turned out in the Rabbitohs' colours after spending the last two months frustrated by a groin injury. Langmack has named a handful of new faces for the round one match in an effort to reignite the hunger and competition amongst the players after the distracting events of the last week. "The players have been waiting five months for this match," said Langmack "They are fit and ready to go, and believe in their ability to do a good job for us this weekend. "The trials are over – competition points are now on offer and we want to get some wins early, so we will give it our best shot against the Bulldogs. "This is a solid side that will do well for the South Sydney Rabbitohs." South Sydney side v Bulldogs March 15: Brad Watts; Nathan Merritt, Lee Hookey, Chris Walker, Ahmad Bajouri; Owen Craigie, Willie Peters; Ashley Harrison, Bryan Fletcher (c), Justin Smith, Paul Stringer, Shane Walker, Andrew Hart. Bench: Jamie Fitzgerald, Frank Puletua, Brett Kearney, Stacey Katu, Fili Lolohea. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46535 South Sydney halfback Willie Peters believes the Rabbitohs need to win two out of their four opening matches to keep fans coming through the gates. South Sydney halfback Willie Peters believes the Rabbitohs need to win two out of their four opening matches to keep fans coming through the gates. The first test comes at Telstra Stadium on Saturday against the Bulldogs in game two of the National Rugby League's double-header and will probably be the toughest. Both clubs are in turmoil and under pressure, particularly the Rabbitohs after sacking Craig Coleman and, to a lesser extent, the Bulldogs following tension between Willie Mason and coach Steve Folkes, who has axed the giant prop from first grade for a poor attitude. It doesn't get much easier for the Bunnies in round two against the Broncos before they clash with North Queensland at home and New Zealand Warriors away. Peters will play his first match for South Sydney since 1998 after being named on Monday in the Rabbitohs side to take on the Bulldogs in what promises to be a fiery match. Peters, 24, was recovering from an adductor muscle injury when Souths conceded 130 points in their three trial games, including a 58-12 loss to Wests Tigers. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?ArticleID=4512 8 March 2003 South Sydney chairman George Piggins says if Craig Coleman had been his son he couldn't have given him more chance to succeed. Piggins added that if he not had finally axed the coach, he would have had to walk away from the club in disgust at himself. "I was too loyal for too long to Craig," Piggins told The Sun-Herald. "He had to go. It was obvious the players weren't responding to him. If I hadn't had the balls to sack him, I would've had to sack myself." Piggins revealed a group of senior players expressed concerns that helped shape his thinking on the Coleman issue. "At the end of last season a group of players who are still here talked to me about Craig," he said. "I don't think it will serve any purpose telling you the names, but they were senior players. They said something and it was interesting. "It made me more concerned. We gave Craig another chance in the trials, but it didn't work." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/08/1046826573161.html South Sydney have been a huge disappointment. Since their return to the NRL competition at the end of 2001, nothing but drama has come out of the joint and a lot of supporters of the the Rabbitohs are disgusted at the way they have handled their affairs on and off the field. You would think, having been given a second chance to participate in the elite competition, that South Sydney would have worked overtime to present a professional and forward-thinking image. You would like to think they could have capitalised on the euphoria and emotion surrounding their return to attract a new era of supporters. You would think no stone would have been left unturned to create an image and culture that says "we are the strength of rugby league and we deserve our place not only in history, but in being a significant part of the future of this great game". It was hoped by now Souths would be repaying the thousands of fans who walked the streets to fight for their cause. By now you would have envisaged that the people, many of whom risked their own careers by standing up to a media giant and speaking out against the treatment handed out to this club and our game, would be feeling a strong sense of vindication that the pain and treatment they had suffered was worthwhile. These people should be able to feel a sense of pride, not only in their own courage but in the South Sydney club that surely would emerge from the ashes as a monument to their fight. Instead, we have been treated to a series of embarrassing on-field performances, the public airing of damaging psychologist reports, public admonishment of individuals who dared to question their professionalism or introduce change, players sacked, the chief executive sacked, the coach sacked, resignations, boardroom coups, threats to people inside and outside the club, backstabbing, political infighting and, during the week, the comical headlines that revealed what can only be described as a totally laughable management structure. No one was expecting miracles on the field or a string of wins. But people were expecting professionalism, pride and courage, and an indication that their club had its act together and was building towards something of which they could be very proud. It has to be remembered that Souths returned to the NRL after two out of three judges agreed with the South Sydney legal team that trade practices law had been breached and that they had been unfairly treated. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/08/1046826573158.html 8 March 2003 South Sydney Rabbitohs Coach: TBA Captain: Bryan Fletcher Home Ground: Aussie Stadium Entered Premiership: 1908 Premierships Won: 20 2002 Result: 14th Player to watch: Bryan Fletcher nzoom.com 2003 prediction: 14th Squad: Ahmad Bajouri, Luke Branighan, Joven Clarke, Owen Craigie, Jason Seath, Bryan Fletcher, Scott Geddes, Ashley Harrison, Andrew Hart, Lee Hookey, Wade McKinnon, Mark Meredith, Nathan Merritt, Mark Minichiello, Willie Peters, Frank Puletua, Russell Richardson, Shane Rigon, Noah Sete, Justin Smith, Paul Stringer, Luke Stuart, Chris Walker, Shane Walker, Brad Watts. South Sydney have started 2002(errr, the Kiwis still seem to be year behind. Maybe 2003?? . . ed) in the worst fashion, dumping coach Craig Coleman before the competition has got underway. They have signed big names Bryan Fletcher, Willie Peters, Ashley Harrison and Chris Walker in the hope of kick-starting their re-emergence into the NRL. They were saved of winning the wooden sppon last year when the Bulldogs had all their competition points off them and this year has not got off to a good start. Paul stringer was outstanding last year and it is very disappointing to lose young prop Scott Geddes in pre-season, as their combination would have been impressive. Luke Stuart, Andrew Hart and Justin Smith are quality back- rowers and if Peters can get the backline going, the Rabbitohs could yet be a force. Russell Richardson needs to find the form that won him an Australian jumper a few seasons back. http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,173367-2-19,00.html 7 March 2003 Former South Sydney centre Andrew King has signed with the London Broncos in the English Super League. King has been rushed into the Broncos' match day squad of eighteen for this weekend's fixture with Hull. "Whether or not I play tomorrow after just flying in is still up in the air but I'm certain to be right for our next game at home," King said. "I played with Nigel (Roy) at the Eagles and it's nice to know a few of the faces at the club." King played with the Northern Eagles for the 2000 and 2001 seasons as follow on to playing for Manly in 1999. Prior to 1999, King had enjoyed two stints on the Gold Coast punctuated by time with another English club, Keighley. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46517 LAST year Paul Langmack walked away from Wests Tigers after failing to get the first grade gig following Terry Lamb's departure from the club. It wasn't a dummy spit, more a realisation that his coaching career had hit a brick wall and it was time to move on or consider going back to cooking burgers at Hungry Jacks. Less than a week after Craig Coleman's sacking his assistant Langmack is the man again taking centre stage as the heir apparent at Souths. While Langmack continues to keep a lowish profile there is already talk of another walk if he is again the bridesmaid. That position should not be construed as holding a gun to the heads of the already hard-pressed Rabbitoh directors who have to solve the coaching conundrum once and for all this time. However, Langmack's apparent all-or-nothing stance does demonstrate both his level of commitment to the job and a willingness to back himself. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6089550%255E23214,00.html 6 March 2003 South Sydney patriarch George Piggins says the possibility he will be deposed in a club coup this month has delayed the selection of a new coach. In a stunning admission, Piggins said he did not want to encumber any new administration with an expensive recruit to replace Craig Coleman. The comments came as Paul Langmack was appointed sole interim coach, with Phil Blake reverting to a co-ordinating role because he does not have formal qualifications, which Souths fear may have legal implications for the club. "At the end of the month, we're going to have the annual general meeting," Piggins said last night. "I'm not saying there will be a ticket run against us, but if there is ... if we were to put a full-time coach in position which a new board didn't want, we'd only be saddling them with a burden. "I don't know that a ticket is going to be run but if it was, it would be more professional of us to say, 'Let's get the annual meeting out of the way and then we'll decide on a full-time coach'." Piggins has sporadically been the target of calls for his resignation since Souths were excluded from the 2000 premiership. Yesterday, former Rabbitohs board member Jerry Lissing said: "I think it would be in the best interests of the club if George and the current board stood aside and gave someone else a go without another acrimonious shit fight. George Piggins is the figurehead who bought us through and he deserves to go out in a blaze of glory." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/05/1046826438961.html The South Sydney rugby league coaching saga continued yesterday, with Paul Langmack handed the club's interim head coach position and Phil Blake returning to his role as coaching co-ordinator. Yesterday's announcement reverses Monday's decision to appoint Blake the interim coach. It is believed Blake doesn't have his level two coaching certificate, which you need in the NRL, while both he and Langmack have no first-grade head coaching experience. The two men met with South Sydney chief executive David Tapp yesterday. "This was done in the best interests of the club moving forward," Tapp said. Langmack, who is believed to be well-respected by the Rabbitohs players, spent last season as Wests Tigers assistant coach. He will be given until the first week of April - three NRL premiership matches - when the Souths Board will make its final decision regarding the long-term position during its annual general meeting. The decision can be interpreted as an opportunity to road test Langmack before the final decision is made. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_5226.asp 4 March 2003 Rabbitohs to pull cash out of hat for Coleman replacement Ready for action, skipper: St George Illawarra's Lance Thompson, Wests Tigers' Darren Senter, the Bulldogs' Steve Price and Souths' Bryan Fletcher inspect Telstra Stadium yesterday. Photo: Tamara Dean South Sydney would not rule out spending as much as $400,000 a year on a replacement for Craig Coleman, chief executive David Tapp said last night. After a marathon board meeting which discussed Monday's sacking of Coleman and the paying-out of his estimated $160,000 contract, Tapp said suggestions the Rabbitohs could not afford a top-notch coach were wrong. Early favourite John Monie, Great Britain boss David Waite, Manly assistant Des Hasler, ex-St George Illawarra coach Andrew Farrar and former Newcastle mentor Warren Ryan have said they are not interested. Leading those who have publicly declared their availability are former New Zealand and Queensland coach Graham Lowe and ex-Gold Coast Charger Phil Economidis. But comments from chairman George Piggins have given rise to speculation that promising Britain-based bosses such as Ian Millward, Stuart Raper and Shaun McRae are out of Souths' price range. Taking the exchange rate into account, these candidates would be entitled to demand $300,000 or $400,000 per season. Asked whether those figures ruled them out, Tapp replied: "I wouldn't necessarily say that, no. We've got a bit of money to spend - we are forecasting a profit this season. "The most important thing here is to get it right. Our club is in a healthy position financially and we wouldn't rule out anyone http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/04/1046540195015.html 4 March 2003 Scene 1: Erskineville Oval, 9am. Something is not right. The silence. No small talk, no mischief. Some of the South Sydney players take part in a weights session. There's an air of apprehension in the old gym, coach Craig Coleman is nowhere in sight. Some had been told "Tugger" was no longer their coach, but the players are not speaking. "Nah, can't talk." Outside, a parked van sports the famous Rabbitoh slogan, "In George we trust". Scene 2: South Sydney Leagues Club car park, 10.20am. Coleman trusted George Piggins, too, but now he can only splutter, "I thought George Piggins was a man of his word". Coleman is angry, bitter with Piggins and the print media. He will speak only with television or radio microphones. "The f---in' newspapers, they've tried to get me from the start," he says. He turns to one print journalist and calls him a "c---". He holds court with the cameras in the car park, tells them how the club has no patience, speaks bluntly, and in his gruff voice says he had no idea this was coming, this would be his end. "The team's had so many points scored against them and I get the sack and they leave the defence coach in," Coleman says, hands on hips, shaking his head. Scene 3: South Sydney Leagues club Showbiz Room, 11.30am. Coleman is no longer the focus as David Tapp marches in. The chief executive says, "South Sydney must move forward" and Coleman was obviously not the man for the job. Beneath walls decorated with pictures of movie stars, Tapp explains why Coleman has been "terminated". "The club has recruited aggressively for this season and we have a team that should be capable of competing at a high level with any side in the NRL competition," he says. Just metres away, Coleman sits on a bar stool. Sipping coffee and maintaining the rage, he can be heard above the electronic sing-song of the poker machines, speaking with his mates, who are huddled around him. He also speaks on his mobile phone. Then there is this moment, after the press conference. As Tapp is leaving, he has to walk past Coleman. Coleman stares straight ahead and Tapp passes quickly. Their eyes do not meet. Fans Peter and Nellie Karam watch on as yet another South Sydney drama unfolds. They'd rushed to the club when they heard the news. "I don't think he's been given a fair chance," Peter says. "You've got to understand that we are not going to win no premiership right now. We are rebuilding." Nellie says they should give him one more year. "I don't think he's been given enough time. He's a good club man, but he did need help," she says. "We don't just lay down and die. We will come back". Scene 4: Des Renford Pool, 1.57pm. The players arrive in their hotted-up cars. Still not talking, they bow their heads and make their way to the pool. They all have a good idea what the meeting before training will be about, but some feign ignorance. "Nah, mate, I have no idea what's happened," says one player, as he shuffles to the pool gates. Of the officials, Paul Langmack arrives first, then Tapp, then interim coach Phil Blake. Tapp stands poolside authoritatively, gathers up the players, Langmack and Blake flank him as he begins his speech. As Tapp reaffirms what they all know, he tells them to "dig deep", that they've got to start "being competitive". He also tells them their performance level is "just not good enough". They are all "embarrassed". They are all "compassionate men". They all feel for "Tugger", he says. After Tapp's five-minute talk, Blake addresses his players, speaking passionately with big hand gestures. Langmack gives his thoughts as well. The meeting breaks up, the players start their pool session, except for Willie Peters. Blake takes Peters aside and speaks at length with him. Langmack does the same with Lee Hookey and Chris Walker. Halfway through the training session, the officials leave. The players swim on. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/03/1046540137624.html South Sydney rugby league chairman George Piggins revealed he had asked coach Craig Coleman to stand down at the end of last season. "I said to him at the end of last season `Craig, put your hand up and we'll find a job for you in the club'," Piggins said. "He said you're going to have to sack me." The Rabbitohs hierarchy did just that, handing Coleman his marching orders after 54 first grade games as head coach. Piggins once again offered Coleman the chance to step aside but, when it was declined, he made the decision for the Rabbitohs stalwart. "I'm very disappointed," Coleman said. "George wanted me to walk and I have never been a quitter in my life." Coleman said it was unfair for him to be judged on trial games, where he experimented with his line-ups and used more than 70 players in three matches. The Rabbitohs conceded 130 points in three pre-season defeats, but it was Saturday night's 58-12 loss to the Wests Tigers which forced Piggins' hand. "If I had known the pressure would be on last week Lee Hookey would have played, Willie Peters would have played," Coleman said. "I have used 70-odd players in the trials. (Assistant coach) Paul Langmack and (coaching consultant) Phil Blake and I have said from day one we will be treating them as trials. "George appointed Paul Langmack defensive coach and he hasn't even been pulled in." Peters and Hookey were two of the star recruits this season, but both have been nursed through the pre-season with injury. http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,172540-2-19,00.html 3 March 2003 Craig Coleman has been sacked as coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Souths called a press conference this morning to announce that Coleman's contract had been terminated and that Phil Blake and Paul Langmack would act as caretakers while the club searched for a replacement. “It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, but the South Sydney Rabbitohs must move forward. “We must concentrate on attempting to re-establish Souths as a strong force in the world’s premier rugby league competition.“ said Souths Chief Executive Officer, David Tapp. “The Club has recruited aggressively for this season and we have a team that should be capable of competing at a high level with any side in the national rugby league competition. “But I do want to pay tribute to Craig. He’s been a Souths stalwart and has contributed greatly to this Club’s history and standing in the game. I and everyone at Souths wishes him all the very best for the future and hope he’s not lost to rugby league.” http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46486 A "devastated" Craig Coleman reacted bitterly after being sacked from the South Sydney National Rugby League club's coaching role on Monday. Coleman was axed just 11 days before the start of the season following a string of dismal results culminating in Saturday's night's final pre-season trial 58-12 loss to the Wests Tigers. Former Souths and Warriors star Phil Blake was promoted from assistant coach while the hunt for a long-term replacement goes on, with Paul Langmack staying on as his assistant. Coleman said club chairman George Piggins had not warned him that trial form could cost him his job and he had been experimenting with a large number of players and combinations in the pre-season. "If George (Piggins) would have come and told me we had to win the trials I would fielded our best side," Coleman said. "Me and my staff, we've said from day one we will treat them as trials and the board knew that," Coleman said. "Never once did they come and say you'd better win them. "But that's what you've got to put up with. "I"m devastated. Football is my life. This club was my life. "When you are a coach you are just waiting to be sacked anyway. The great Jack Gibson got sacked. "But the way it happened was very, very disappointing." Coleman had been under extreme pressure following a string of dismal results. The club conceded 130 points in losing all three of its trial games following some expensive off-season recruiting. http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,172421-2-19,00.html South Sydney Rabbitohs chairman George Piggins has revealed that the club board will meet on Tuesday to decide the fate of first grade coach Craig Coleman. Speaking on radio last night, Piggins announced that the board would meet and discuss what was the best course of action but gave no indication whether or not it would definitely be the end of the road for Coleman, who remained loyal to the club during its toughest period. The question over Coleman's position comes on the back of some poor preseason form, including Saturday night's massive 58-12 loss to the Wests Tigers. Prior to Saturday, Souths had lost 28-10 to the St George Illawarra Dragons in the Charity Shield and lost 44-24 to the Melbourne Storm in a trial match in Queensland. Coleman had been hoping for the return of his halfback recruit, Willie Peters, to give the side the direction it needs, but a lack of organisation from a leaky defence seems to be the main concern for Souths as they have conceded 130 points in three matches. But Coleman, a former Souths halfback, came into 2003 knowing that he was on probation after the Rabbitohs were the worst performed club in 2002. Piggins had said that Coleman must deliver results in the first few weeks of this season or the coach would have to fall on his sword. Even some close losses in trial matches would have kept Coleman afloat but with Souths facing the Bulldogs, the Brisbane Broncos and the New Zealand Warriors inside the first month of the official season, some within the Rabbitohs ranks may be thinking that swift action may be in the best interests of everyone. Coleman has apparently already offered, in private, to step down if the club believes it would be better off with another coach. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46484 |
