http://www.dailytele...r-1225929346620
The Harlequins desperately need a quality coach. But could they attract Anderson? Could they afford him?
Anderson is likely to receive a payout of AU$300,000, which would probably be his asking price fro relocating.
The other unemployed but experienced and talented Australian coaches are Ricky Stuart (unlikely to be interested because he is front runner for NSW Blues State of Origin coach), Graham Murray, Steve Folkes, and Michael Hagan. The Quins would be doing well if they could snare any one of those coaches.
However any decent coach will be looking at the playing roster. The losses of Louis McCarthy Scarsbrook and Will Sharp are serious blows. So too will be Rob Purdham. Second rower Luke Williamson, who is retiring, has not been replaced (his former Manly team mate Steve Menzies would have been perfect). Full back Ben Jones-Bishop's return to Leeds is another serious loss of playing talent. Danny Orr's departure leaves a lack of cover in the halves. The club is desperately in need of two powerful props, a top backrower, a half, a full back and two wingers. These massive gaps in playing strength will deter any quality coach.
The only positive about Harlequins at the moment is the London lifestyle, which puts it ahead of most northern clubs.
The incoming coach -- whoever he is -- needs to scour the Championship, France's Elite One, and also the Four Nations, and try to sign a couple of hitherto unknown but talented PNG players.
Edited by ParisSurtout, 26 September 2010 - 09:46 PM.













