Wests Tigers' brutal act towards Brett Kimmorley in season from hell
Nice guys really do finish last.
Brett Kimmorley's NRL coaching career will end in two weeks' time – possibly for good – simply for being the only guy in the right place at the wrong time.
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The Wests Tigers turned to Kimmorley after sacking Michael Maguire mid-season, handing him the most poisoned of chalices and basically signing his death warrant as a head coach.
At 45, he could hardly say no to the opportunity even though he was on a hiding to nothing.
Inheriting one of the worst rosters in the NRL – and with morale just a pebble or two above rock bottom - 'Noddy' was told to do his best with no prospect of being hired long term.
The Tigers made it clear they were looking elsewhere for a new coach in 2023, unsuccessfully chasing Cameron Ciraldo before looking a few metres down the corridor to pull head of football Tim Sheens out of retirement and install Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah as assistants.
So where does this leave poor old Kimmorley, the fill-in who held the fort and took all the body blows?
Saturday night's horrendous 66-point loss to the Roosters was the Tigers' ninth defeat in 10 starts under Noddy's watch and the worst defeat in the club's history.
The rookie coach's win-loss record stands at 10 per cent and is set to slip into single figures.
The Tigers will be at long odds to win another game this year and look almost certain to collect the wooden spoon for the first time.
Where to now for Brett Kimmorley?
Having started his coaching apprenticeship 10 years ago and working his way through the ranks via the lower grades, assistant roles and the NRLW, Kimmorley will be kicked to the kerb in a fortnight without any idea where his future lies.
He thinks he will be sent back to the Tigers' pathway system but has not been given any clear indication by Sheens.
"I'm enjoying the role. It’s obviously a flat-out role and it’s a great opportunity for me to learn what an NRL coach does (and) I think it’s grown my aspirations to coach (at NRL level)," Kimmorley said recently.
"It's confirmed and proven to me I want to do it."
Sadly, following 10 years' graft for 12 games as an NRL head coach, that dream looks to have come to an end.
No other club will touch him and we will probably never know if he truly has what it takes to coach at the elite level.
That's some price to pay for doing the right thing.
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