'He makes you believe': Cheika backed for NRL job
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Bulldogs star Jacob Kiraz has backed former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to make a successful transition to the NRL after playing under him for Lebanon at last year’s World Cup.
Cheika has confirmed his interest in talking to NRL clubs, including the Dragons, about a coaching job after he finishes with Argentina at the Rugby World Cup and Kiraz believes he would be a success.
“I reckon Cheik would do well, he is a top coach,” Kiraz told NRL.com. “He is a really good coach and honestly, I’d say he is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, in terms of speaking and revving you up.
“He is a union coach but he still knows footy. It’s a simple game and I reckon he would do a really good job. He knows how to speak to the boys good, he knows how to rev you up.”
Cheika was juggling his commitments with Lebanon and Argentina in England and achieved success with both teams, taking the Cedars to the World Cup quarter-finals and plotting an upset win by the Pumas over England at Twickenham.
In Cheika’s first game as a rugby league coach, the Cedars held New Zealand to 18-12 before going down 34-12 after star playmaker Adam Doueihi was sent off midway through the second half.
“He made all of the boys believe. It doesn’t matter who you are versing, you just believe you can win,” Kiraz said.
“Look what he did with Argentina two days after we were knocked out of the World Cup by Australia. People were like, ‘that’s crazy’ but he would have given them belief that they could do it and I reckon he could do a great job in the NRL.”
Cheika reflects on brave Lebanon effort
The Dragons are currently the only NRL club without a coach after last month parting company with Anthony Griffin and the Sydney Morning Herald reported that a fan had approached Cheika through a mutual friend.
Cheika hasn’t had contact with the club but he told the Herald that coaching in the NRL would be a “brilliant opportunity”.
“If a rugby league team thought I was the right person to get what they want, then I’d definitely be open to talking to them,” he said.
“It’s no secret I have an interest in league and coached the game before. It’s really appealing. But, if it’s to happen, the stars would need to align.
“It’s a leap of faith in any circumstances but many of the things that are most important in coaching are around people, alignment, direction, strategy and recruitment.
“There’s a line of continuity in all sports, but particularly these two codes.”
With former Dragons prop Jason Ryles, who has worked for England Rugby Union under current Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, moving from the Roosters to the Storm, the Red V are now considering other options.
Among those whose names have been strongly linked to the job are Rabbitohs assistant Ben Hornby, his Cowboys counterpart Dean Young and former Sharks premiership winning mentor Shane Flanagan.
Hornby captained St George Illawarra’s 2010 premiership winning team, which included Young, and the pair began their coaching careers together at the club.
Flanagan, who is now an assistant to Anthony Seibold at Manly, and Young worked together under former Dragons coach Paul McGregor in 2020.
Wayne Bennett, who took St George Illawarra to the premiership in 2010, urged the club to make a quick decision and appoint either Hornby or Young.
“I don’t think they have got to look too far, they have just got to make a decision,” Bennett said.
“Ben has had three or four years at South Sydney now and done a wonderful job there, Dean has moved up to North Queensland and done a great job.
“They have got the Dragons DNA in their blood, they know all about the club, they coached lower grades there so they are right across the game there.
“I think both of them are wonderful men. Ben was captain, Dean never played for another club either, and the Young family is part of history at the Dragons so they don’t need to look too far.”
