The Mole: North Sydney greats call for former Bears captain to lead new NRL team
Updated . First published at
Powerbrokers at North Sydney are pushing hard for former club captain Jason Taylor to be the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears.
Ex-Parramatta coach Brad Arthur, currently with English club Leeds, is an unbackable favourite for the job when the club enters the NRL in 2027.
But he will have to overcome the challenge of Taylor, currently Cameron Ciraldo's assistant coach at the top-of-the-table Bulldogs.
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Officials and old boys on the Bears' WhatsApp group are all backing Taylor, who played nearly 150 games for North Sydney in the 1990s, for the post.
Taylor has a fair track record as a coach at the Eels (2006), South Sydney (2007-09) and Wests Tigers (2015-17).
"He's an experienced coach and now is doing a great job helping get the Bulldogs to where they are," a former Bears star who preferred not to be named told Wide World of Sports.
Former Bears captain Jason Taylor. Nine
"He would give this new Bears franchise a link to the old Bears and that would be a great fit."
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NRL boss Andrew Abdo said Arthur was not over the line for the coaching position as yet.
"Nothing is guaranteed, we have got to follow a process. Obviously he has indicated his interest and he's got great credentials," Abdo told Triple M.
"But nothing is finalised. We haven't finalised the overall structure and we are very respectful of that. We are respectful of our relationship with the Western Australian government."
South Sydney legend Sam Burgess has also put his hand up for the job. He is currently coaching Warrington in the Super League.
