In conversations around the time of Jason Demetriou’s removal from South Sydney, Michael Cheika made it known he was interested in pursuing a job in the NRL but didn’t want to become that guy.
You know the one: the coach included on every shortlist of potential candidates when a job comes up, but whose chances of getting hired fade with every mention.
So there was a certain irony that within the space of 90 minutes on Bloody Monday, Cheika’s name was again on the lists of possible replacements for two departing coaches in two different codes.
In the “where to next” section of stories on the sacking of Parramatta’s Brad Arthur and the Waratahs’ announcement they would not be-resigning Darren Coleman, there was Cheika’s name.
It can’t be considered a bad thing, of course. In the NRL context, Cheika’s inclusion as an option for proud old clubs like Souths, the Dragons and Parramatta is mildly remarkable and a testament to his reputation as a players’ coach, which in the 13-man game was earned from a short stint as coach of Lebanon.
But there’s a big difference between being that guy and the guy, and it won’t have escaped Cheika’s notice that the man who will get the Souths job – and was chased for the Parramatta post, too – was the highly experienced, highly successful old bloke on the market next year: Wayne Bennett.
Michael Cheika took Lebanon to the quarter-finals of the Rugby League World Cup in 2022.Credit: Getty
If a unicorn like Bennett is available, clubs get on planes to make it happen.
In fact, this year’s episode of Bennett-mania could provide a perfectly timed lesson for Rugby Australia in not over-inspecting the mouth of a gift horse.
Arguably a few months too late, the Waratahs are hunting for a new coach for 2025 and beyond. After two promising seasons, Coleman’s third at the club has sunk into disaster territory, with a huge injury list and two wins from 12 games.
Public interest in the team has dropped off a cliff, players have either elected to depart or are looking to depart, including captain Jake Gordon, and Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt may have zero Waratahs in his July Test team, which plays twice in Sydney.
Michael Cheika and Michael Hooper celebrate victory over the Crusaders in the Super Rugby decider in 2014.Credit: Getty
And all of this with a British and Irish Lions series on the horizon next year; the first leg of Australian rugby’s so-called Golden Decade, which is being banked on to revitalise the game financially and spiritually.
So fixing the Waratahs needs to be a point of urgent priority for Rugby Australia. Luckily enough, that task is now firmly in their wheelhouse after the governing body assumed control of the franchise last year.
The urgent part needs stressing, because there has been plenty of dawdling so far. After initial planning to finalise the 2025 coaching position early in the season, the matter was placed on the back burner so that RA’s new high-performance boss Peter Horne could get his feet under the desk.
Months of uncertainty and subsequent poor form hasn’t done the Waratahs any favours in the market as far as recruitment and retention go, and much of that stems from the question: who is going to be the coach?
RA and the Waratahs are officially recruiting and are known to be keen to put an Aussie in charge. But as discussed in a recent column, the options appear limited.
Once considered a leading contender, assistant coach Jason Gilmore has been linked with a move to English club Harlequins, and another assistant, Chris Whitaker, is rumoured to be France-bound.
Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey continues to be in the mix, and so too Stephen Hoiles, who said this week he is finishing up at Randwick and admitted he would like to coach NSW one day. But the ex-Wallaby has also been linked with a return to the USA to coach. Other names like Simon Raiwalui, Andy Friend, Tim Sampson, John Manenti and Matt Cockbain have also been floated.
But the issue for RA is picking the guy from a shortlist mostly made up of contenders with no previous head coaching experience at Super Rugby level to take the reins at the most important franchise in Australian rugby, which is currently in rubble.
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh and RA director of high performance Peter Horne.Credit: Edwina Pickles
It seems fairly obvious for RA that the Wayne Bennett option in this situation is Cheika: he’s available, has a track record of rebuilds and success, can attract talent and has emotional ties to the club.
But unlike jet-setting Souths and Eels officials, informed sources say RA hasn’t made any contact with Cheika, who has been living in France for a few years but calls Sydney home.
Despite being the best-credentialed coach on the market, RA remains nervous about the prospect of bringing Cheika back for three reasons: 1) the disaster of Eddie Jones last year, and 2) Horne is keen to build a sustainable future for the Tahs and the return of Cheika, who turns over apple carts in the pursuit of success, could see this same situation arise again in a few years.
And reason No.3? The disaster of Eddie Jones last year.
Waugh has plenty of tough decisions on his plate, but making the right call on the Waratahs job is right up there.
Horne’s mission is to bring the stability and sustainability that have long been missing from Australian rugby, so that’s a fair call.
But time is a luxury NSW rugby doesn’t really have. And rightly or wrongly, Sydney is a sporting town that demands success and has huge competition for hearts, minds, dollars and media attention. Of all the options on the Waratahs coaching list, no one moves the needle like Cheika.
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