Heartbreak News, The head coach of the Parramatta Eels, Trent Barrett, shed tears after the Elks announced their new head coach.
The news that twice-fired NRL coach Trent Barrett is one of the front-runners to succeed Brad Arthur as Parramatta’s head coach has raised concerns about the club’s direction.
Barrett was removed from his assistant position after Arthur was ousted last month, but he is now the Eels’ temporary coach after being fired by both the Sea Eagles and the Bulldogs.
Barrett has a 32% winning percentage in 110 NRL games as a coach. The previous champion player’s performance at Canterbury, his most recent club, was a pitiful 14.7%.
Barrett has apparently solidified his position as the equal favorite to be named Parramatta’s next head coach, despite those lackluster results.
Although there are still four names in the running, Eels standout Reagan Campbell-Gillard stated that the team “just needs to make a decision… the sooner the better.”
Dean Ritchie stated on NRL 360, “I’m receiving mail indicating that Trent Barrett is the equal frontrunner.”
“I don’t think he’s ahead of the group, which consists of Josh Hannay, Justin Holbrook, and Jason Ryles, but I also don’t think he’s behind it.”
“At the moment, I believe there is a deadset four-way bob of the head.”
However, former NRL player James Graham thinks Barrett’s assistantship at a club where the coach was fired is the only reason he’s being considered.
“I find Trent Barrett to be intriguing; I have nothing against him, but consider his track record,” Graham remarked.
The only thing that makes him stand out is that he coached first grade at Manly and the Bulldogs. I don’t think he’s in the conversation if he’s the assistant coach somewhere else.
Barrett would have “learned from his mistakes,” according to James Hooper, who also mentioned that Manly recruited Anthony Seibold after his wooden spoon finish at Brisbane.
Prior to Braith Anasta, Barrett’s former NSW teammate, stepping in, Ritchie said Barrett had the resounding backing of the team.
“What percentage of athletes dislike an assistant coach?” Anasta posed a rhetorical question.
“I’m not trying to undermine Baz; he has the makings of a fantastic coach, but he hasn’t had many lucky breaks.”
Barrett emphasized that in the two years since his first two NRL experiences, he had grown as a coach.
Barrett told The SMH, “I feel completely different with Parramatta than I did with my previous appointments.”
“I’m a lot calmer, more patient, and more clear about who I am as a person and the coach I want to be as a result of the experiences I’ve had.
“I’m sure I can lead. It has never been a problem. It’s managing its emotional content. In those previous two jobs, I was overly emotional. I believe I have much greater self-control and can make informed decisions.
In his prior head coaching positions, Barrett faced criticism for supposedly interacting excessively with his players.
“I understand the perception, but that was blown out of proportion,” he remarked.
“I played with three or four of the players in that team when I took over at Manly. I was 36 at the time. I’ve discovered the hard way—through lessons learned—that perception matters a great deal.
It’s crucial to avoid placing oneself in those kinds of circumstances. I recognize that. I was stupid enough to believe that a coach could lead a regular life at the time. You have to watch who you hang out with in a neighborhood pub, even if you’re drinking two or three beers.
At Parramatta, everyone has a similar perspective on how they view football.
“We are able to have open discussions. I am able to speak openly with each player. They are aware of what’s about to happen, and I feel at ease telling them.
Prior to now, I wasn’t very good at that. You can only become better at it with experience. To figure it out, you have to be working there. I’ve done things the hard way, made mistakes, and placed myself in trying circumstances. But without going through all of that, I wouldn’t be in this situation right now.
