Home / Sports / NRL Reconsiders Gorden Tallis for Kangaroos Ashes Coaching Role
NRL Reconsiders Gorden Tallis for Kangaroos Ashes Coaching Role
25 Aug
Summary
- NRL initially blocked Tallis from cultural role with Kangaroos
- Situation has shifted, Tallis could now join Kangaroos as assistant coach
- Current assistants forced out due to new directive preventing NRL club roles
In a surprising turn of events, the NRL is now reportedly open to Gorden Tallis joining Kevin Walters' coaching staff for the Kangaroos' upcoming Ashes tour of England. This comes just a week after the NRL and ARL Commission had rejected Walters' proposal to appoint the former Test forward as the team's cultural figurehead.
The initial plan was for Tallis to play a role in educating players on the significance and pride of representing Australia in an Ashes series. However, officials had ruled the role unnecessary, believing Walters could manage those responsibilities himself as head coach.
Now, the situation has shifted, and The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Tallis could instead step into a formal role as one of Walters' two assistant coaches with the Kangaroos. This would mark Tallis' first coaching role since nearly a decade ago, when he served as a defensive consultant with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The change in stance comes as the NRL has implemented a controversial new directive that prevents Kangaroos assistants from holding coaching roles at NRL clubs. This means the current assistants, Brett White and Justin Holbrook, will be forced out of the national set-up.
According to the report, the NRL has encouraged Walters to include at least one Australian currently coaching in the UK's Super League, with names like Willie Peters, Adrian Lam, John Cartwright, and Brad Arthur all considered contenders.
