Aussie NRL Coaches: 2008 Quiz | Rugby League

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which former Bulldog and Test International was the 2008 coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs?

Answer: Steve Folkes

Folkesy was appointed as coach of the Bulldogs in 1998. Prior to that he was the Bulldogs Reserve Grade coach 1996-97. Steve Folkes, a Bulldogs legend played 245 first grade games for Canterbury 1978-1989 and 1991, 24 games for Hull (UK) 1989-90, 9 games for NSW 1986-88, 5 tests for Australia 1986-88, and 1986 Kangaroo Tour. He had coached the team to 2 Grand Finals in 1998 and 2004, winning the Premiership in 2004, and before that coached Canterbury Reserve Grade to the Super League Premiership in 1997.

2. Parramatta-Aboriginal for "place where eels lay down". Can you name the 2008 coach of the Parramatta Eels?

Answer: Michael Hagan

Hages was appointed as coach of the Parramatta Eels in 2007, previously coach of the Newcastle Knights from 2001 to 2006. He was a Canterbury Bankstown Bulldog and played 80 first grade games with them between 1983 and 1988 before playing 111 games for the Newcastle Knights between 1989 and 1993. Michael Hagan finished his playing career in Halifax (England), playing 92 games between 1984-85 and 1993-95.

He coached the Knights to a Premiership winning Grand Final on debut as a coach.

3. Which former Sea Eagle was the designated 2008 coach for the Manly Sea Eagles?

Answer: Des Hasler

Des Hasler was appointed as coach in 2004. Before that, he was Manly 1st Division coach 2001-02, Manly assistant coach 2003, and NSW assistant coach 2003. As a player, Hasler racked up 287 First Grade games, 11 for Penrith 1982-83, 255 for Manly 1984-93, 21 games for Wests 1997, 13 origin matches 1985-91, 12 Tests 1985-91, Kangaroo Tour 1986 and 1990, and won two premierships with Manly 1987 and 1996. As a coach he has never taken a team to a Grand Final win, but he did take Manly to their first finals series since 1998 in 2005.

4. The Gold Coast Titans kicked off for the first time in the 2007 season. Who was the coach for season in 2008?

Answer: John Cartwright

John Cartwright was appointed as coach of the Gold Coast Titans in 2007 when they played their debut series. Prior to this appointment, Carts was the Sydney Roosters assistant coach (2003-2005). He played 200 first grade games for Penrith ('85-'96), Salford (UK)(1996), and made 8 appearances for NSW ('89-'92), as well as 18 tests for Australia. He had also been NSW Origin assistant coach, City Origin assistant coach, and in the USA, Tomahawks coach.

5. Criticised heavily by many as a Parramatta coach, this coaching stalwart was the 2008 coach of the Newcastle Knights.

Answer: Brian Smith

Brian Smith was appointed the Knights Coach in 2007 after being dumped as Parramatta's coach. His previous appointments were Illawarra 1984-87), Hull (UK)(1988-90), St George (1990-95), Bradford (UK)(1996), and Parramatta (1997-2006). Smithy played 13 first grade games for St George Dragons 1973-74, and 17 games for Souths Rabbitohs 1975-76, and 1979.

Although he has coached teams to 3 Grand Finals 1992-93 and 2001, he hadn't won a Premiership. Smithy was nominated Dally M Coach of the Year in 2001 and set a record for most wins as Parramatta First Grade coach, and longest serving Parramatta coach.

6. A Magpie, a Bear, an Eagle and then an Eel, this person was the nominated 2008 coach for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Who was it?

Answer: Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor was appointed coach of the Bunnies in 2007 having coached Parramatta the previous year. Taylor played 86 first grade games for Wests Magpies 1990-93, 147 for North Sydney Bears 1994-99, 17 games for the failed Northern Eagles 2000, and 26 for Parramatta 2001. He made the NRL Finals in his debut season as Parramatta coach in 2006.

7. This former Chocolate Soldier who finished his career as one of the greatest Roosters to ever don the tri-colours, was fondly known as Freddy. Who is the man that was nominated 2008 Sydney Roosters Coach?

Answer: Brad Fittler

Brad Fittler was appointed coach of the Sydney Roosters in 2007, having coached at the end of season 2006 games as caretaker coach when the Roosters fired Ricky Stuart. Freddy Fittler played 199 games for the Penrith Panthers 1989-1995, 217 games for Sydney Roosters 1996-2004, 31 games for NSW State of Origin 1990-2004, and 34 games for Australia 1990-2001.

He captained Australia in 20 matches (5 World Cup matches), played and won in 2 Premierships (1991-Penrith Panthers, 2002 Sydney Roosters) and captained the 2002 premiership winning team.

His coaching record was a 100% hit rate with 3 games, 3 wins as Caretaker coach.

8. This former Raider who ended his playing career as a Bulldog, coached the Roosters to a Grand Final win, and after a series of dismal efforts by the team, was dumped by the Roosters Club. The 2008 Coach of the Cronulla Sharks was who?

Answer: Ricky Stuart

Ricky Stuart was appointed as the Sharks' coach in 2002, before that was the Bulldogs Jersey Flegg coach in 2001, and was a reasonably successful Sydney Roosters coach taking them to the Premiership in 2002 and coaching them to Grand Finals in 2002-04. Sticky played 203 first grade games for Canberra 1999-98, and 40 for Canterbury 1999-2000.

He played 14 State of Origin matches for NSW 1990-94, won 3 Premierships with Canberra Raiders, and played in 9 Tests from 1990-94. Stuart was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal in 1990, won the Dally M Medal in 1993, and as the NSW State of Origin coach in 2005 when he won the series 2-1.

9. Never known to smile very much, a man who was currently being head-hunted by many NRL clubs, and who indicated he may even have headed overseas if the opportunity arose. Can you tell pick who the 2008 coach of the Brisbane Broncos was?

Answer: Wayne Bennett

Wayne Bennett was appointed Broncos coach in 1988, and prior to that coached Ipswich 1976, Brisbane Souths 1977-79 and from 1984-85. He also coached Brothers 1980-82, Canberra 1987, Qld 1986-88, 1998 and 2001-03, and Australia 1998 and from 2004-05. A true blue Queenslander (or should that be Maroon?), he played for Warwick, Toowoomba, Brothers, Ipswich (captain/coach), Bris Sths (captain/coach), 7 games for Queensland 1971-73, and Australian tour of New Zealand 1971. Bennett coached the Broncos to 6 Premierships in 1992-93, 1997-98, 2000, 2006, and only missed out on a Premiership in his first Grand Final in 1987.

Wayne Bennett has coached Queensland in 22 State of Origin games (Origin Record). He was nominated "NRL Coach of the Year 2000" and won the , "Golden Boot Coach of the Year 2005".

Just before the Start of Season 2008 Bennett has announced he will separate from the Brisbane Broncos as Coach.

10. The Auckland Warriors, later known as the New Zealand Warriors have had this person as their coach who began in 2006. In 2008, the nominated coach for the Warriors was who?

Answer: Ivan Cleary

Ivan Cleary was appointed as New Zealand Warriors Coach in 2006. Prior to this he was the Warriors assistant coach 2005, and the Sydney Roosters Premier League Coach 2003-04. Cleary played 189 first grade games, 15 for Manly Sea Eagles 1992-93, 37 for North Sydney Bears 1994-95, 84 for Sydney Roosters 1996-99, and 53 for Auckland Warriors 2000-02. He had no First Grade Premiership experience, but took the Roosters Premier League to a Premiership in 2004

Source: Author Bad_MaNneR$

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Aussie NRL Coaches: 2008 Trivia Quiz

The season brought some huge news with one of the best coaches announcing he is leaving the team he has been with for what seems forever. I will give you the team name, you choose who the 2008 coach was.

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