NRL: Warriors look to future as Jones makes final exit

The Warriors have farewelled Stacey Jones (L) and will now look to rebuild after a disastrous 2009 campaign. Photos / Getty Images

The rebuilding at the Warriors was underway long before the Little General's Last Stand turned into something resembling Colonel Custer at Little Bighorn on Saturday night.

In the aftermath of a 30-0 drubbing that underlined the magnitude of the task at hand, coach Ivan Cleary admitted preparing the side for the last six games had almost become a distraction.

The long-term rebuilding effort has been paramount in the coach's thinking.

Behind the scenes, owners Eric Watson and Mark Hotchin have also been pondering their options.

The Herald tabled a list of questions to Watson more than two weeks ago, inquiring about the futures of director of football John Hart and chief executive Wayne Scurrah. Watson said through an intermediary that he would answer the questions, but those answers never came.

Yesterday the reason for that silence became clear, with the club confirming a management restructure. Hart is to shift upstairs to a boardroom position, with Scurrah taking over responsibility for a football department that will be significantly beefed up with a new manager and an expanded scouting network that will attempt to tap into the largely ignored United Kingdom market.

The changes are designed to bring the club into line with its Australian counterparts.

Hart, whose job title will change to executive director, will continue to be heavily involved in the club's operations, but his focus will be more on commercial matters.

"In terms of day-to-day management, the football department will report to me," Scurrah said.

While Scurrah will be involved in negotiations with players, he won't play a major role in talent identification.

In the past Scurrah has been able to distance himself from any on-field failures, but the changes means the buck will now unquestionably stop with him. "I'm ultimately accountable for the results. I'll manage the cap and I'll manage a lot of the negotiations, but essentially the people who will pick the players are the head coach and a [recruitment manager]."

Cleary will now turn his attention to evaluating his players. That will be a grim task, if the evidence of Saturday night's one-sided flogging is anything to go on.

With their resolve stiffened by the desire to send Stacey Jones into retirement on a positive note, the Warriors threw plenty into the opening 20 minutes.

The pack held its own against an underpowered Storm unit, but there were signs it wouldn't last, and it was one-way traffic once Cooper Cronk chipped cleverly infield for Billy Slater to score in the 26th minute.

By the time Greg Inglis sent Ryan Hinchcliffe over for the Storm's sixth of the night, many of the 14,734 in attendance were already heading for the exits.

Given the insipid end to a dispiriting season, it was a display of impatience Cleary would have identified with.

"We were outclassed on the night," Cleary said. "You could see signs in the second half that, while we kept fighting, we were probably looking forward to the final hooter, getting this year over and done with.

"I've got to say it's nice now to be able to get into it, reviewing everybody and really focusing hard on the future.

"The last six weeks it has actually been a challenge to stop thinking too much about the future and worry about what it is at hand.

"The NRL is a furnace and you really get tested. And when a few things don't go right it doesn't take much to tip the scales the wrong way. I think that is what we found out this year. But I am very confident in the players and the staff. We just have to get our heads down and do the work.

"I am excited about turning this around."

For Jones, there was precious little to celebrate in his swansong. He did produce a neat chip that Kevin Locke gathered and passed back to him, but the cover defence converged to snuff out any hope of a final try.

"There's a bit of relief but a bit of sadness as well," Jones said following what will certainly be his final NRL match. "It was tough at times, but I have no regrets about coming back."

Jones wasn't the only Warrior playing his last game. Wing Aiden Kirk is out of contract and won't be re-signed, and the same fate looks likely to befall prop Evarn Tuimavave.

Jones' final act as a Warrior was to back Cleary and assistant John Ackland, who could be a contender for the recruitment manager's role.

"I have no doubt that this club is going to go forward," Jones said. "It is a year to just wipe all of the bad stuff away. With Ivan and John the club has some real good people."