Rugby League: Graham likely to keep coaching job despite horror run

By PETER JESSUP

Mark Graham appears set to hang on to his job as Warriors coach despite turning in the club's most abysmal performance in the role.

Graham went before the Warriors' all-Tainui board this week for a review of a season that has produced 12 losses, two draws and six wins, and no chance of the promised final-eight position. His contract is up after six more games.

There was also the competition's worst for-and-against statistics to explain, along with the 10-56 hiding in Melbourne last Sunday.

Tainui are obviously keen to hear why the $2 million they have spent in buying players has produced zip.

There have been no signals at all from tribal headquarters as to their intentions regarding Graham's tenure after the coach gave his view of what has gone wrong and how to change things.

Tainui could be planning to let Graham go at the end of the season, but not wanting to announce that now for fear of an ever-worsening player performance.

But that doesn't look likely. If Graham offered his resignation at the meeting, as he had repeatedly stated he would if he couldn't coach the side to the playoffs, the board is yet to accept it.

And a club in need of a new coach would be out chasing the hot prospects - Phil Gould, resting after leaving the Roosters, David Waite, unwanted at St George, Bob Fulton, retired from Manly, Warren Ryan, about to leave Newcastle - yet none of these has been approached.

The coaching decision is intrinsically linked to the tribe's intention regarding ownership. If they re-sign Graham, that carries an unstated commitment to the club. If they intend selling, it makes sense not to sign him on, leaving a new owner to make that decision.

Meantime, the player trade is approaching fever pitch. Friday, June 30, is the deadline after which those off contract can negotiate freely, and all the players are keen to know who their coach will be.

Warriors chief executive Trevor McKewen said yesterday that Tainui would make its coaching appointment before the end of the round-robin - July 31. They were "not looking to be that active in the player market, it's mainly in terms of retention [of those Warriors off-contract]."

Centre Nigel Vagana has permission to look elsewhere until Friday, his agent Simon Burgess yesterday saying there was interest from Bradford, Leeds, Hull and Warrington in England, and the Northern Eagles and Canterbury in the NRL. The Warriors have a last-offer clause.

The club is negotiating with the centres' find of the season, Shontayne Hape, as well as wing Henry Faafili and lock Henry Perenara.

Perenara, the former New Lynn Stags and Glenora player, gets his first chance this weekend, along with Mangere East/Otahuhu second-rower Jonathon Smith. Both make a start in what has the potential to turn into another slaughter. The Warriors have had four losses on the trot and none of their playmakers are back from injury to face a red-hot Sydney City.

Props Jerry Seuseu and Mark Tookey are gone after the Melbourne capitulation and Tookey has been sent back to the Newtown Jets.

Also going to Newtown are Clinton Toopi, Wairangi Koopu and Odell Manuel, the latter clearly on the outer and playing for a contract.

To Brisbane go Francis Meli, Paul Whatuira and Ali Lauiti'iti.

Terry Hermansson, one of the few who can hold their heads up and say they have earned their keep this season, is back, bad knees and all.

Warriors: David Mulhall, Henry Faafili, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Lee Oudenryn, Jason Bell, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson, Logan Swann, Matt Spence, Scott Coxon; interchange Cliff Beverley, Henry Perenara, Jonathon Smith, Monty Betham.

Roosters: Luke Phillips, Matt Sing, Ryan Cross, Shannon Hegarty, Anthony Minichiello, Brad Fittler, Adrian Lam, Ian Rubin, Simon Bonetti, Dallas Hood, Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Ricketson; interchange David Solomona, Darren Burns, Craig Wing, Julian Bailey. Kiwis forward Jarrod McCracken, sidelined since suffering a neck injury in a spear tackle six weeks ago, looks unlikely to play again this season, his club, Wests Tigers, said yesterday.