Cannon in queue behind Nucifora
Cannon in queue behind Nucifora
Bret Harris | March 07, 2008 Cannon in queue behind Nucifora | The Australian
FORMER Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon is a surprise candidate on the ARU's short list for the vacant high performance manager's job, although Blues coach David Nucifora remains hot favourite.
The ARU will appoint a new HPU manager after Pat Howard's resignation for family reasons.
It is understood ARU chief executive John O'Neill has already drawn a line through some names on the list.
"I'm intrigued to hear my name being bandied around," Cannon said. "I'd be interested in considering the role."
O'Neill is understood to want the job to go to a former Wallaby.
NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has also expressed interest in the job.
But it would appear the position is Nucifora's if he wants it - and indications are he does.
O'Neill has a high opinion of Nucifora, who would have been appointed Wallabies coach if New Zealander Robbie Deans had not been overlooked by the All Blacks.
The ARU considered Nucifora as Deans' Wallabies assistant before deeming he would be "incompatible" because he was really a head coach.
But O'Neill is keen to get Nucifora back into the Australian system. He regards Nucifora, who guided the Brumbies to the Super title in 2004 before being driven out of Canberra by player power, as the successor to Deans at the Wallabies.
Ideally, O'Neill would like to see Nucifora coaching an Australian Super 14 team, but there may or may not be any vacancies.
McKenzie is under pressure to guide the Waratahs to the semi-finals, but there is already speculation assistant Todd Louden is being groomed to take over.
Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher is yet to steer the two-time champions to the top four, but if the ACT team made a change, it is unlikely it would bring Nucifora back to Canberra after his acrimonious departure.
John Mitchell is established at Western Force, while Phil Mooney is only in his rookie year with Queensland.
It is interesting to note, however, that Nucifora and Mooney were co-coaches at Brisbane club Western Districts.
The main reason Nucifora may think twice about the HPU job is that he would be leaving coaching for an administrative position.
This would not seem to be a good career choice for someone with ambitions of coaching the Wallabies.
Former World Cup-winning Wallabies assistant coach Jeff Miller had difficulty returning to coaching with the Reds after four years as ARU HPU manager and QRU chief executive.
The best way for a coach to improve his skills is to coach.
But if there are no coaching opportunities for Nucifora in Australia, he may be left without a job anywhere - at least in Australasia.
Nucifora was the Blues' technical adviser in 2005 before taking over as head coach in 2006, guiding them to eighth place.
But like at the Brumbies, Nucifora has had player problems at the Blues as evidenced by All Blacks second-rower Ali Williams' move to the Crusaders.
