Maroon nod for Hagan to back up -  June 30, 2005
QUEENSLAND Rugby League boss Ross Livermore has declared that Michael Hagan will be retained as Maroons coach in 2006, regardless of the result of next Wednesday night's State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium. And Hagan gave a vote of confidence to new fullback Matt Bowen, saying the young Cowboy was set for many more starts at Origin level after ousting Melbourne ace Billy Slater. Despite a 2-3 win-loss record since taking control of the Queensland team in 2004, Hagan had done an "outstanding" job, Livermore said, and would have the reins again next season provided he was available. But Livermore was unsure whether Hagan would again put himself through the rigours of Origin football, given the troubles his club Newcastle has faced this year, having won its first match for the season last weekend. "Newcastle has been gracious enough to allow Michael to do the job the last couple of years and we appreciate that because we know how demanding the role can be," Livermore said. "He may well choose to step away from the role and if that was his decision we would certainly accept that and thank him for his contribution. But if he were to make himself available again I would think we would once again extend an invitation to him regardless of Wednesday's result."
Before the series Hagan suggested the time spent away from Newcastle during the two-month series may force him to step down after this season, but said yesterday he would not make a final decision until after game three. "I will speak to the (QRL) board and I will speak to Newcastle and just assess exactly how I feel at end of series," he said. "It is very demanding on everyone involved, but it also extremely rewarding, so I will have to weigh up both sides before I make a decision."
Livermore said he was aware Hagan was not committing himself to the Maroons beyond this season, but said there had been no discussion about potential replacements. He said the QRL would conduct a full review of the series and meet with the state director of coaching, Wayne Bennett, before any decision was made. "Michael's decision will dictate when, if ever, we discuss replacements," Livermore said. "The QRL will conduct a series review in the months after Origin III and should Hagan step down, the board will meet Wayne Bennett to begin talks on who should coach us next year with someone to be named before the end of the year. While it is a board decision, as overseer of all the coaching from our Queensland State of Origin team right through our Emerging Origin and State development squads, Wayne would certainly play a significant role in any appointment."
Hagan was keen to focus on the task at hand and said he was confident Queensland's new-look line-up was a more powerful and balanced than the one that lost 32-22 in Sydney a fortnight ago. "It was difficult to change a winning side after game one, but the situation has changed a fair bit for us since then," Hagan said. "We've lost a couple of key blokes to injury which has forced us to re-shuffle our bench, which wasn't right in game two. That was where the Bowen vs Slater scenario came in and while it was a very tough decision to leave out someone like Billy Slater I think we are a bit stronger in forward depth and we will need that this time around."
While few doubt Bowen's ability with ball in hand, questions have been raised as to whether he is strong enough under the high ball to handle Andrew Johns' kicking game. But Hagan and Bowen were quick to play down the suggestion the diminutive Cowboy would be under extra pressure next Wednesday.
"Matt is a sensational player and I think he will thrive in the starting role next week," Hagan said. "He does it week in and week out for North Queensland and we won't be expecting anything different from him."
Bowen agreed, saying he was targeted by opposition kickers every week at club level and was confident he and fellow Cowboys Matt Sing and Ty Williams could nullify Johns' kicking game. Hagan said he was prepared for next Wednesday's clash to be a "war of attrition", with Queensland boasting "workhorses" Danny Nutley, Cameron Smith, Ashley Harrison and Chris Flannery to complement "higher impact" players such as Michael Crocker, Brad Thorn and Corey Parker.

Joey will keep going: Hagan -  July 5, 2005
QUEENSLAND coach Michael Hagan has tipped champion Newcastle halfback Andrew Johns to continue tormenting rivals for another three or four years. 
While Hagan is uncertain whether he'll stay on as Queensland coach after tomorrow night's series decider against NSW, he believes his classy Knights playmaker will play on, if he wants, until he is 34 or 35. "Because he's missed so much footy it's probably prolonged his career," said Hagan when asked how long he thought 31-year-old Johns could keep going. "I guess it's a matter of how his body holds up but he might have another three or four years left. He's still enjoying it, he's a great trainer and his attitude is 100 per cent." 
Hagan also cleared the air over his position with Newcastle following a traumatic season in which the club has won one game. "There's been a lot said and written and it's been a pretty tough year but I'm committed to the Knights for the rest of this year and next year," said Hagan. In regards to another term as Queensland coach, Hagan is not sure what he will do. "I'm undecided," he said, dismissing the outcome of tomorrow night's clash as a factor. I'll assess how I feel at the back end of the season and after I talk to the relevant people." 
Those people would be his wife Sue and his two teenage daughters who encouraged him to take on the job again this year. Johns, who has battled a series of injuries in recent seasons, has already flagged his intention to go around in the representative arena again next year. He suffered a bad back injury in the 2002 finals, suffered a career-threatening neck injury that ended his 2003 season and tore his cruciate ligament to finish his 2004 season prematurely. The bad luck continued earlier this year when he broke his jaw playing against the New Zealand Warriors. While Hagan loves watching Johns work his magic for Newcastle, he admits he feels a "sense of great disappointment" when he's on the receiving end of his genius as he was in Sydney in Origin II last month. "We just have to put a lot more pressure on him, cut down his time and try and suffocate his kicks," said Hagan. 

Knights respond to Hagan spray - July 10, 2005
A HALFTIME spray from Newcastle coach Michael Hagan inspired the Knights to a remarkable 22-18 come-from-behind win against North Queensland in an absorbing NRL clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium today. Hagan told his players it was the worst first half performance he'd seen from the Knights after the home side trailed 18-4 on a wet, cold and windy day in Newcastle. The players responded by scoring 18 unanswered points, despite running against a stiff breeze, with teenage five-eighth Jarrod Mullen bagging a brace of tries. It was Mullen's fifth game of rugby league in eight days after he had played for the Knights against the Sydney Roosters last weekend and then in the Australian Schoolboys championships this week. Mullen, 18, shrugged off elbow and wrist problems to overshadow the performance of NSW halfback Andrew Johns. Asked to rate the four tries to three victory, Hagan replied: "It'd certainly rank among the best we've had given we hadn't won at home for so long (round 26 last year). "There's no question how important it was. I thought it was our worst half of football I'd seen in a long time, bordering on embarrassing and soft." 
Importantly the win moves the bottom-placed Knights three points behind nearest rival South Sydney on the NRL ladder. Newcastle skipper Johns – one of six Origin players backing up today – admitted the Knights were keeping close tabs on fellow wooden spoon contender Souths, who upset Cronulla last night. 
"Definitely," said Johns, who had a hand in three of Newcastle's four tries today. "I watched that game last night to see how many points we have to get to stay away from the (wooden) spoon. "We're all pretty passionate about not winning it."
Hagan said he gave his players a rev at halftime because the Knights failed to exploit the strong wind at their backs and made too many basic errors. "It was up there," back-rower Clint Newton said about Hagan's blast. "We needed it. A lot of the forwards took it to heart."
The Cowboys continued to dominate early in the second half. Knights winger Anthony Quinn saved a try by knocking a ball into touch when the visitors had a huge overlap and later Ty Williams missed out on bagging a double when he lost control of the ball over the line. From that point everything turned sour for the Cowboys, who dropped from third to fourth on the ladder after round 18 action. Prop Paul Rauhihi was placed on report for a swinging arm on Josh Perry in the 53rd minute and Mullen ran 50m to score a try six minutes later after Johns put him into a hole. Newcastle utility Luke Quigley scored a 64th minute try off a Johns bomb to leave the Knights trailing 18-16 before Mullen got his double. Hagan admitted the Knights had an "ounce of luck" with referee Tony Archer missing a blatant forward pass by centre George Carmont in the lead-up to Mullen's second try. Cowboys captain Travis Norton said his players were guilty of "clock-watching" and hoping they would cruise to victory off the back of the strong breeze which favoured them in the second half. When I was on the bench I felt we were just playing with the wind," said Norton after 36 points were scored against the wind. To give Newcastle credit, they definitely aimed up in defence down their end and showed more intensity. We just probably coasted too much and were clock-watching."
Newcastle forward Andrew Price (quadriceps) was the only injury concern reported today. 

Hagan's Origin job up in air - July 11, 2005
Michael Hagan hasn't spoken to Queensland Rugby League officials about whether he wants to continue coaching the Maroons next year - or whether they want him. After coaching Newcastle to a shock win over North Queensland yesterday, Hagan said he wasn't planning to decide on his availability or otherwise until the end of the season. "I'll see how it all looks then," Hagan said. "I haven't spoken to anyone about it. I'm still licking my wounds after Wednesday night." NSW beat the Maroons 32-10 in the State of Origin decider to consign Hagan to a second consecutive series loss as coach. Melbourne's Craig Bellamy and Canberra's Matthew Elliott have been mentioned as possible coaches should Queensland make a change in the wake of the heavy defeat.

Hagan's no-win situation - July 6, 2005
OF all the tortuous thoughts bouncing around Queensland coach Michael Hagan's mind this bright State of Origin morning one is the most pertinent. Well, the most pertinent after he makes sure Queensland win tonight. And for Queensland to win they have to shut down Andrew Johns. And any cleverness Hagan displays in corralling the player who controls so much of NSW's play snares him in the most cliched squeeze you can imagine. Hagan is, to list a few, between a rock and a hard place, the devil and the deep blue sea, Catch 22 and heaven and hell. Let's start by agreeing that the best way for Hagan to clinch the series tonight is to devise tactics that stop Johns. But doing that alerts every other NRL coach to Johns' vulnerabilities. And that will make Hagan's life difficult when he and Johns return to Newcastle and resume club football. Rival coaches will use Hagan's own tactics to nullify Johns, and Newcastle's plight, already fragile this year, will worsen. 
If, for example, setting Queensland lock Tonie Carroll specifically at Johns in attack to tire him and give him less time to react is a success, club coaches will do the same thing when they play Newcastle. If the ploy with Carroll doesn't work tonight club coaches will be no wiser about tactics to stop Johns. That makes life less complicated at Newcastle but Queensland will probably lose the series which, and I'm just guessing here, probably will not be all that well received in the north. 
Hagan was stunned by the depth and perception of my theory yesterday. So much so he laughed at it. I'm putting it down to desperate bravado but I could be wrong. "Well," he said casually as he gained control of himself, "I do seem to have a few problems. If we win I can't go back to Newcastle for a while. I might have to stay up here." 

Hagan admits: We lost our way - July 7, 2005
As New South Wales fought back from a 19-0 deficit, each try ruthlessly exposed chinks in Queensland's armour. Matt Bowen's golden-point heroics eventually masked the inadequacies, but the Maroons' soul was laid bare three weeks later in Origin II. And last night the Blues delivered the last rites at Suncorp Stadium. 
Queensland was outplayed by a better side. It continued a worrying trend for supporters north of the Tweed. NSW has won six of the past nine games and the past three series, but even those statistics don't tell the true story. The Blues have dominated. In their past three victories they have run rampant, scoring more than 30 points on each occasion. "I knew we had to be at our best tonight," Queensland coach Michael Hagan said. "We certainly weren't that. We lost our way at times. They capitalised on the mistakes we made and they're a very good football team. We had to start the game well. We had a fair bit of possession and we didn't take advantage of that field position. Then we just got punished for errors." 
It would be easy to blame this year's capitulation on the injuries to the forward pack - most notably the loss of Steve Price and Carl Webb - and the genius of NSW halfback Andrew Johhns, who orchestrated the wins in Origins II and III and had a knockout victory over Queensland playmaker Darren Lockyer. 
It would be just as easy to point to the representative retirement of Shane Webcke and the unavailability of Jason Smith, whose class would have provided Queensland with the perfect foil to Lockyer. "It would be nice to have someone like Shane Webcke or Jason Smith," Lockyer said. "That's just the depth they have. They have so much. They bring in players like Timana Tahu for Luke Rooney, Craig Gower for Craig Wing." 
But depth has always been Queensland's bugbear and they have managed to conceal it in the past thanks to some brilliant individual talent. 
In the 1980s it was the likes of Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Gene Miles. In the '90s, tiny Allan Langer carried Queensland on his shoulders. 
This side had Lockyer, but he was unable to put his stamp on the series, comprehensively outplayed by Johns. "He was outstanding again for them," Hagan said of Johns. He's playing in a pretty good football team. They have some talented players across the board and they have plenty to choose from, which has always been the case. To bring a bloke like Timana Tahu into your team says a lot about the quality of players they have at the moment." 
Johns will be back next year, so there is no solace for Queensland there. As will Blues coach Ricky Stuart, who won a solid points decision over his counterpart, Hagan. The simplest measure of Stuart's coaching performance was the way in which he was able to devise a game plan that allowed Johns to control the final two games of the series. In Origin II, Johns was able to cruise for the opening 20 minutes before putting his stamp on the match. Central to Queensland's plans for Origin III was the need to put Johns on the deck, work him over with and without the ball. Despite the Maroons' best efforts, Johns was able to play in a dinner suit. "He sees things pretty well and executes quickly," Hagan said. 
Lockyer, on the other hand, was isolated in defence. Braith Anasta charged through the Maroons skipper in the 21st minute last night to score NSW's first try. 
Later in the first half Lockyer was trampled by Ben Kennedy, left lying on his back before receiving treatment on the run for a head knock. Hagan would not be drawn on his coaching future last night but is unlikely to return next season. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is the favourite to take over the role. "I guess I said I would see how I felt at the end," Hagan said. "At the moment I don't feel that flash. We'll see what happens in the next little while." 
Bellamy, or whoever takes over, may bring some new faces with them. Johnathan Thurston enjoyed an outstanding series debut, but Parramatta halfback Tim Smith is drawing rave reviews for his performances with the Eels. He could emerge as the answer to Johns, a man with whom he has already been compared. 
The outside backs need reinforcement. NSW's size was too much for the Maroons to handle. Matt King and Mark Gasnier looked like men among boys. 
Queensland winger Matt Sing is likely to stand down. The answer may lie with Brisbane centre Justin Hodges, who is enjoying a renaissance with the Broncos. 
Bellamy's young charge in Melbourne - Greg Inglis - is in the Hodges mould and looks set to start at the Storm next season, with Steve Bell on his way to Souths or Manly. He could force his way into the Maroons squad as early as 2006. "We have got some talent coming through," Queensland prop Ben Ross said. "We will get stronger as the years go on. We have the basis for a good team." 
Queensland supporters are banking on it. 

Coping in pressure cooker decides season By: Michael Hagan 
THE finals are fast approaching, your team is in a rut, so, as coach, what do you do? 
I read with interest this week that Cronulla coach Stuart Raper has put extra time and effort into defence after a couple of rough weeks, while Manly's Des Hasler has taken his players away to freshen them up. In my experience, managing the natural build-up of physical and mental pressure at this stage of the year is the key. As a coach, you have to anticipate how to handle it on an individual basis with players. Most teams train just about the same, all have access to the NRL Stats video and statistics to examine any facet of the opposition, whether it's individuals or team structure, and they have similar fitness levels. So what are the major variables that will decide who makes it to the finals and who doesn't -- and which teams will play well once they get there. How individual players hold their nerve during this high-pressure part of the season is number one, along with how teams manage the fatigue factor. And you'd be surprised how the two are intertwined. There are other important issues like the form of your playmakers under pressure, specifically their ability to finish off a set of six tackles during a tight game. Injury also comes into play, a crucial referee's call and the simple bounce of the ball. 
We all train similarly and we all practise the skills and the fundamentals, with a plan to put them into practice under game conditions. You can coach them, talk about it, give examples of how to do it -- but it is how much a player wants to do it under fatigue and in a pressure situation that you can't coach. And that decides your season. Have you wondered why some players do it successfully in the first two-thirds of the season, but then hit a slump? Or a team jumps out of the blocks and is near the top of the ladder in the first half of the year, but then comes back to the field? Well, there's not the same pressure at that stage of the year as there is now. All of a sudden a player might be starting to feel jaded from a long off-season of training, followed by the requirements of being ``up'' for 20 successive weeks and in some cases representative games as well. Cronulla and Manly are going through that challenge now, which is why I took particular note of the different paths taken by Raper and Hasler this week. The Sharks, after a poor 2004, were the first team to go into off-season training, if I remember correctly, and it may be coming back to hurt them. They missed 50 tackles against the Knights in round 19 then a record 72 against the Dragons last Sunday. Raper decided to put his players through extra defensive work, but does he do that at the risk of burning his players out even more? 
And Hasler's decision to take his players away for a few days to freshen them up is interesting, too. It really is a fine line for a coach because so many players have had different workloads at this point of the season. The other thing you can't replace in the run to the finals is experience. Last week against Parramatta, Andrew Johns was virtually perfect in how he completed our sets with his kicking game. He gave us several repeat sets, was pinpoint in putting pressure on the Eels and he never let up. And we focused a lot of that pressure on Tim Smith. Come to think of it, as I look across the contenders, the stability and class in the halves is the other telling factor. The benchmark has been raised this year with teams playing more expansively -- the Broncos are the best example of this shift in attitude. 
With Darren Lockyer and Brett Seymour interacting well in the halves, where they have hardly missed a game between them, and Justin Hodges and Shaun 
Berrigan (who missed a lot of footy last year with injury) giving them added strikepower out wide, the Broncos' strike rate is a try a game better than last year. In contrast, with the injuries they have had and with Brett Sherwin nowhere near the form of last year, the Bulldogs are down nine points a game (and 2.5 tries) from 2004. The Tigers, with Scott Prince, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and Brett Hodgson as the crux of their attack, are scoring 5.5 points more per game. The Cowboys have added Johnathan Thurston from the Bulldogs and are scoring five points more a game. Other teams can match the trendsetters of the past three years, the Sydney Roosters, in the physicality of their defence and the speed of their line. 
But the Roosters have lost their dominance in the halves with no Brad Fittler, Brett Finch well down on form compared to last year and having a season of musical chairs at five-eighth and hooker. It's no surprise they have gone from 5.2 tries a game to 3.7. And under the pressure of this time of year, it's very hard to turn that around. The whole game, in a sense, changes. Your mental capacity to overcome fatigue when you have to defend a repeat set, when your opponent gets a leg up into your territory from a penalty, how you react to a crucial ref's call is different. Who do I think will hold their nerve? 
I think Manly, Cronulla and Canberra are feeling the pinch. I think the Roosters have never found a rhythm this season and I don't know that they will in the next six weeks. However, even with Hazem El Masri out for a while, the Bulldogs have so much big-match experience and tough mental ethic and class players in Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Tonga to return, that they will get through. The wild-cards are the Warriors. They have been in just about every game they have played this year and I thought they just needed to string a couple of wins together to turn the corner. They have done that with successive victories over the Roosters and Raiders. With halfback Stacey Jones in great form and keen to wind down his career with the club in style and skipper Steve Price returning last week, they could get 10 points from the last six rounds (four wins and a bye) which would get them into the finals. The other team with undeniable credentials is Melbourne. Everyone knows that defence wins semi-finals and grand finals, but they also have the strikepower in attack to match any of the contenders, especially with 
five-eighth Scott Hill back. 

Hagan to quit Maroons -  August 27, 2005
MICHAEL Hagan officially walked away from the Queensland Origin coaching job yesterday, declaring he won't be a contender to coach the Maroons for a third straight series in 2006. Hagan, who denied being pushed into making the decision after two straight series defeats at the hands of New South Wales, cited family considerations and his commitment to the Newcastle Knights as the reasons for stepping down. Melbourne's Craig Bellamy and former Maroons great Mal Meninga are understood to be among the leading contenders to take over from Hagan. The Knights coach refused to speculate on who he believes should get the job but doesn't necessarily believe it should automatically go to a Queenslander. "That's not for me to comment on," Hagan said on a possible successor. 
"All I would say is it needs to be the right person, irrespective of whether he is a Queenslander or not. I can understand the feeling of the fans and of those who would argue the coach should be a Queenslander. But I think it's more important and there is a need there to get the right person for the job first and foremost. 
"It's a particularly tough job." 
In his two years as coach after taking over from Wayne Bennett, Hagan failed to deliver a series win. But he says he wasn't pushed into standing down and his decision had nothing to do with the lack of success. "It's not based on results - I would have stood down irrespective of whether we had won or lost this year,"he said. "I've had great support from people like Wayne and Ross Livermore and getting the opportunity to work with all the staff and the players has been everything I thought it would be - a great experience. But it takes it out oof you, particularly when there are club commitments to consider. Before one of the Brisbane games this year, I was up and back (from Newcastle to Brisbane) three times in the one week. It takes its toll and I have (wife) Sue and the girls to consider as well." 
There is no question Newcastle's disappointing run this season also influenced Hagan's decision. He will be in the final year of his contract with the Knights next season and his coaching future will hinge on how the club performs. "The Knights were good enough to let me experience coaching at that level for two seasons so I owe them a fair bit in that regard,"he said. "It has been disappointing this season but I'm excited about what we are capable of achieving next season." 
As for not being able to win an Origin series while he was at the helm, Hagan said: "It would have been great but it wasn't to be. "We got to a decider both years but couldn't quite get there." 

Knights discuss Hagan's future - November 21, 2005 
NEWCASTLE coach Michael Hagan is set to discuss his future with the club over the next 48 hours, with rumours linking him to Parramatta in 2007.  Hagan has one year remaining on his contract at the Knights after enduring a horror 2004 season. The Knights won the wooden spoon for the first time in the club's history and he quit as coach of the Queensland State of Origin team after losing the series 2-1 to New South Wales. But Hagan is being hunted by Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald, Channel 9 has reported. The Eels last week announced coach Brian Smith's services would not be required when his contract ends next year and are already looking for a replacement. Hagan has denied talking with the Eels but chairman Mike Tyler said the board would discuss the matter and resolve the situation quickly. "We don't really know what Hages thoughts are as far as his own future is concerned," Tyler said on Nine. "We have not had the chance to sit down and talk about it so all will be revealed in the near future." 

Hagan set for Eels - November 22, 2005 
NEWCASTLE coach Michael Hagan has emerged as a shock candidate for the Parramatta coaching position set to be vacated by Brian Smith - with both Knights and Eels officials yesterday failing to rule out the switch. Off contract at the end of 2006, former Queensland Origin coach Hagan is now firmly in the mix to replace Smith who will stand down as Eels coach at the end of next season. Reaction to an anonymous caller to Newcastle radio station 2KA yesterday only added weight to the Hagan for Parra rumour. Worried Knights fans called the station and the club looking for reassurances about their coach's future, but they were not coming from either the Knights or the Eels yesterday. Newcastle CEO Ken Conway said Hagan was not contracted past 2006 and would be free to move to the Eels. 
"Michael Hagan is off contract after next season," he said. "But it's really an issue for him. We will have contract discussions with Michael in due course but if Michael chooses to accept another position in the interim that's up to him." 
Parramatta boss Denis Fitzgerald announced last week that Eels coach Smith would not be offered a contract past next season. Smith has had reasonable success with the Eels during a 10-year stint, developing many of the club's outstanding young players. But he has failed to bring the club a premiership and the search is now on for a coach to take the Eels to the next level. A number of men have been linked to the role but early favourites for the job include Eels assistant coach Jason Taylor, Peter Sharp and now Hagan. Current coaches Nathan Brown, Tim Sheens, Matt Elliott, Graham Murray, John Lang, Shaun McRae and Hagan all remain uncontracted past 2006. Fitzgerald refused to comment on candidates but would not rule out an approach could be made to Hagan. "There has been a stack of names thrown up," he said. "But we haven't done anything yet." 

Michael Hagan Concentrates on Season 2006 - November 23, 2005 - Newcastle Knights 
Knights CEO Ken Conway and Chairman Mike Tyler met today with Coach Michael Hagan at his request to discuss Michael’s contractual arrangements, going forward. Speaking today, after the meeting Mike Tyler said no firm decisions were made as a result of the discussions. “As most people would be aware Michael Hagan is contracted to the club until the end of the 2006 season,” he said “The Board has undertaken to review this position mid season next year.” 
“Despite recent media reports we remain comfortable with that and do not feel compelled to change our position at this stage. Michael has been a successful coach during his time with the club, with four semi final appearances and a premiership during his six years as an NRL coach. As a result, we realise that other clubs may be interested in speaking to Michael in the short term”. 
“That is no different to the interest that our marquee players attract each year, and is something we will deal with as it arises” he added. Also speaking today, Michael Hagan said he had an open discussion with the club and appreciate the position they are in. “I will obviously need to consider all options from a personal point of view,” he said  “In the meantime I have a team to coach and very high expectations for 2006”. 

Sterlo endorses Hagan - November 24, 2005 
FORMER Parramatta halfback Peter Sterling has endorsed Newcastle mentor Michael Hagan as the man to take over the coaching reins at the Eels in 2007.
Hagan is understood to be Parramatta's first preference after the NRL club decided not to renew Brian Smith's coaching contract beyond the 2006 season. 
Sterling, who played 18 Tests for Australia and 229 matches for the Eels, said Hagan was the obvious replacement for Smith. "There's a lot of mail about Michael Hagan and I think he would be an excellent person to come in," Sterling said today. The fact is he was respected enough to have the (State of) Origin job for Queensland for the last couple of seasons. He is one of those rare coaches to have won a competition in his first year of coaching and has been quite successful in a short period of time. There are a lot of qualities I like about him personally that I think would make him a great coach. I think the best way to judge coaches is what players say about them. I know a lot of Newcastle players fairly well and they have a wrap on him, so that's good enough for me." 

Sharp option if Hagan cuts Knights - November 26, 2005
PETER Sharp has emerged as the early favourite to succeed Michael Hagan as Newcastle coach in the likely event Hagan finishes up at the Knights at the end of next season. Sharp, who is originally from Maitland, spent a successful period coaching lower-grade teams for the Knights in the early-to-mid 1990s. The Herald understands there is a positive view about Sharp's coaching ability among some influential members of the Newcastle board of directors. Newcastle have made no move about a future coach since Hagan will be there next year and wants to coach the Knights beyond that. But the fact the club - despite Parramatta's well-documented interest in Hagan - has chosen not to extend his contract at this stage obviously casts a big doubt over his future at the club.
Knights chairman Michael Tyler told Hagan at a meeting on Wednesday the club would stick with its plan to review the coaching position midway through next season. Hagan will probably have to decide on his future before the start of next season. Parramatta, which will not renew existing coach Brian Smith's contract when it runs out at the end of next season, have identified Hagan as their preferred successor. Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald says the club wants to sign a coach for 2007 before the start of next season, which means that unless they change their mind on Hagan he can presumably expect a formal offer soon.
After it became clear Smith would not be at Parramatta beyond next year, Eels assistant coach Sharp said publicly that he would like to be considered for that job when it became available. But it then emerged Parramatta were looking at Hagan. Sharp is anxious to breathe new life into his first-grade coaching career after it stalled when he finished up as Northern Eagles coach at the end of the 2003 season. He has since been an assistant coach at Melbourne and Parramatta. A big thing in Sharp's favour when it comes to the Knights is the fact he is good friends with club captain Andrew Johns. If it turns out Hagan does move on it would be likely that Sharp would win support as a candidate from "Joey", who is contracted to the Knights for another two years. There have been rumours Newcastle officials might ask former Knights coach Malcolm Reilly to return if Hagan goes after next year, but Tyler said yesterday that was unlikely.
"I spoke to Malcolm's son, who lives in Newcastle, and he told me Malcolm was coming out for a visit," Tyler said. "I'm a friend of Malcolm's and I'm a Malcolm Reilly fan and I'll be catching up with him in the next few days, but I doubt that coaching is on Malcolm's mind these days. He's really enjoying life and it's 18 months since he coached. I'd be surprised if he would be interested even if we did approach him."
Meanwhile, Newcastle halfback and superstar Johns underwent minor surgery on his right knee yesterday. The club's surgical consultant, Neil Halpin, said the arthroscopy went well and it showed there was no damage to the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction that Johns had last year. "We shaved a bit of cartilage and cleaned up the back of the kneecap," Halpin said. "Joey will now have some rest and rehab and should be back in full training in about six weeks. He'll be fine for next year."

Hagan's manager to meet Eels - November 30, 2005 
MICHAEL Hagan's management is set to meet with Parramatta within the next fortnight as the odds of the Newcastle coach remaining with the Knights beyond the 2006 season continue to lengthen. Hagan's manager Brian Tracey revealed last night he would be seeking a meeting with the Eels to "discuss their level of interest" in the former Queensland Origin coach. This follows the Knights's decision to delay possible contract renegotiations with Hagan until the middle of next season. 
"I'll be touching base with Parramatta within the next few weeks to discuss their level of interest in Michael," Tracey said. "There has been an expression of interest from them through a third party that we are aware of but, other than what has been in the media, that is all we know at this stage. I haven't spoken to anyone at Parramatta and we'll get a better idea of where we are at after the meeting with the Eels." 
Parramatta has already announced current coach Brian Smith will not be re-signed by the club when his contract expires at the end of next season. While the likes of Peter Sharp, Jason Taylor and Daniel Anderson have been linked to the job, Hagan is understood to be the club's no.1 target.  The Eels bid to sign him has only been strengthened by Newcastle's reluctance to even discuss a contract extension until mid next year. The Knights board will meet tonight with the Hagan coaching issue certain to be on the agenda. But their current stance is unlikely to change, according to chairman Mick Tyler. "We are keeping our powder dry in relation to Hages," Tyler said. "We have already decided the appropriate time to discuss his future is after round 13 next season and I can't see anything changing in relation to that. I can understand Hages' position and if something else was to come up in the meantime, we'd need to look at it then. Mike will be with us next season and there are a lot of other things on our plate at the moment that have been more pressing than the coaching issue." 
Tracey indicated the Eels may not be the only NRL club who will target Hagan. "Michael is a high-quality coach and I think there are seven or eight coaches coming off contract at the end of next season," he said. Hagan has decided not to comment further on speculation surrounding his coaching future, preferring to leave that to his manager. 

Hagan to meet with Eels - December 3, 2005
MICHAEL Hagan is refusing to be rushed into making a decision on his long-term coaching future despite agreeing to meet with officials from Parramatta in Sydney today. The Newcastle coach has been targeted by the Eels as their first-choice replacement for Brian Smith at the end of the 2006 season. Hagan will be off contract with the Knights by then and Newcastle have made it clear they are in no rush to negotiate a new deal with the former Queensland Origin coach. 
Despite the interest from the Eels, Hagan's manager Peter Tracey said yesterday he does not expect a quick decision one way or the other. "Michael is still very keen to stay in Newcastle and he doesn't want to totally rule out the possibility of extending his contract there," Tracey said. "We were contacted by representatives from Parramatta for a meeting and Michael is happy to do that. It will be the first opportunity for us to gauge their level of interest. 
"But he isn't in any rush to make a decision - not at all." 
Despite intense speculation, Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has refused to comment on the club's interest in Hagan and would not even confirm the meeting is taking place today. But the club has made it clear they hope to announce Smith's replacement for 2007 before the start of next season. It will be a tough decision for Hagan to leave Newcastle if it comes to that. But Knights officials have left him with little option but to investigate interest from rival clubs after telling him they would not look at his coaching future until at least the middle of next season. Hagan is currently selling his newly renovated house in Lake Macquarie but is planning to move into a house with water views nearby. 

Hagan set to pay for outspoken comments -  December 11, 2005
MICHAEL Hagan's criticism of the Knights' administration six months ago will ensure he is not re-signed as coach beyond the 2006 season. While Newcastle chairman Mike Tyler dismissed such suggestions, it is understood that Hagan has been told he won't be asked to continue. Knights sources have told The Sun-Herald that Hagan, who is off contract after next season, won't be offered a new deal as a "get-square" for his measured comments in early June about the club's perilous financial state, which contributed to the side's horror injury run. Former football manager Mark Sargent was also critical of the club in the article. He resigned shortly afterwards following months of animosity with chief executive Ken Conway. Sargent said yesterday that the club's recent decision to defer negotiations with Hagan until the middle of next season was a firm indication they did not want the premiership-winning coach. The Eels have made Hagan their prime target to replace long-serving coach Brian Smith and chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has made it clear he wants to name the 2007 coach before the start of next season. "It's not a great leap of logic to connect the two: the decision not to negotiate with him until June this year and what was said in June," Sargent said.
Hagan told The Newcastle Herald on June 4: "It's getting to the point of we either make significant changes or we perish . . . at some point you've just got to say enough's enough. Something needs to change and the structure needs to improve."
The official line from the Knights' management is that they will wait until mid-season to decide on their coach beyond next season so they can base a decision on the team's performance. But Tyler denied it was a sign that the club didn't want Hagan. "We would have preferred if he didn't go public with those comments," Tyler said. "Be that as it may, they will not be a factor in whether Michael stays or goes - results will be. At the time, we weren't happy with what he said because we were aware of the problems the club had and we were also putting measures in place to rectify the situation. But it won't decide Michael's future. The club is bigger than that."
But in another sign that Hagan's time with the Knights is up, Tyler again said that the club would not stand in his way if the Eels or another club offered him a position. "If that [deciding on a coach mid-season] means that he goes elsewhere, that is in the lap of the gods," Tyler said. Hagan has indicated that he wants to stay in Newcastle with his family. News of his imminent departure comes just at the time when help has arrived to eradicate the problems that prompted his and Sargent's comments in June. The Knights announced during the week a long-awaited partnership with the rich Western Suburbs Leagues Club, which has agreed to underwrite the Knights for $1 million a season for the next 12 years. While the deal mainly helps the Knights' commercial and marketing arm, it will help provide some of the infrastructure that was lacking last season. The team will now train out of Wests' world-class gym and training facility at Phoenix Sports Club.
Hagan's manager Peter Tracey declined to comment on the situation when contacted yesterday.

Knights to discuss Hagan deal
Newcastle Knights' chairman Mike Tyler has denied claims coach Michael Hagan is paying the price for publicly criticising the club's administration last year.
The Knights' board will meet today to discuss Hagan's future after the Parramatta Eels made the Newcastle coach a formal offer for 2007 and beyond.
Late last year, the board indicated it would not make a decision regarding Hagan's future until mid-year. But it is understood that the former Queensland coach asked the board to bring forward the decision after receiving the Eels' offer. Mr Tyler says any decision about Hagan's future will be based only on his performance. "Nothing could be further from the truth and we keep telling what the situation is," he said. "Hages ... raised nothing that was new, nothing that was different, nothing that we weren't conscious of and were working very hard behind the scenes to try and overcome so there was nothing new that came out.
"We're very concerned with performances on the paddock and its performances on the paddock that will make up our mind. That will have much more impact than a statement Mike may have made last year."

Newcastle ends Hagan rumours - January 11, 2006
NEWCASTLE officials are ready to talk to Michael Hagan this week in an attempt to head off continuing speculation the premiership-winning coach has agreed to join Parramatta in 2007.  Hagan ... the club is seeking clarification about his situation. Knights chairman Mike Tyler said yesterday the club was likely to seek clarification of Hagan's situation before the weekend. Hagan has been strongly linked with Parramatta, where Brian Smith has been told 2006 will be his last season in charge. That link has only been strengthened by Newcastle's failure to offer Hagan an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of this season. 
Hagan denied last night he had signed to coach Parramatta next year, but Tyler is clearly fed up with the rumour-mongering.  "We'd certainly like to know because if that's the case we will move much more quickly then we might have," Tyler said. "Our position at the moment is Hagan is a nice bloke, we want to do the right thing. The rumours are running thick and fast. We have a football committee meeting on Thursday. We will discuss lots of things." 
Hagan and his manager Peter Tracey held talks with Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald last month. Tracey was unavailable for comment last night while Fitzgerald was reluctant to discuss the situation, although he said the Eels were on target to name Smith's replacement before the start of this season. 
Tyler reiterated the club's decision not to offer Hagan a contract extension was purely results-driven and nothing to do with comments last season in which the coach criticised the club's facilities and financial status. "Hages has a year to run on his contract, he will be coaching the team for this season," Tyler said. "We were concerned with winning the wooden spoon for the first time. The motivation of the board is results." 

Knights won't extend Hagan deal - January 13, 2006
NEWCASTLE rugby league coach Michael Hagan looks set to link with Parramatta in 2007, with the Knights today announcing that his contract will not be extended beyond this season. Newcastle chairman Michael Tyler said a decision regarding the former Queensland Origin coach's future was brought forward at the request of Hagan The Knights had originally planned to delay a decision until mid-season. Hagan this week asked for that call to be made earlier after informing the Knights that he had received an offer from a rival NRL club, believed to be Parramatta. The Eels had discussions with Hagan late last year after the 2005 minor premiers announced they would not be extending the contract of coach Brian Smith beyond 2006. 

Knights ratify Hagan's last season -  January 14, 2006
MICHAEL HAGAN will be announced as Parramatta's coach-in-waiting by the end of the month after Newcastle announced yesterday this season would be his last with the club. The Knights informed Hagan of his fate after the premiership-winning coach requested a decision on whether his present deal, which expires at the end of 2006, would be renewed. Hagan, who confirmed he had received an offer from a rival club, is now expected to link with Parramatta in 2007. 
The Eels have already told coach Brian Smith his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season. Smith and Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald declined to comment on the latest developments yesterday. However, Hagan - expected to be confirmed as Smith's replacement within a fortnight - conceded rumours linking him with the Eels had provided the impetus for yesterday's events. "Speculation about the club was the catalyst and that brought about today's decision," Hagan said. "At this stage I have not signed to coach anybody beyond 2006. I haven't agreed to coach anybody. I have still got a pretty good football team to coach and that hasn't changed for 2006." 
While not a shock, yesterday's announcement foreshadows the end of a long association between Hagan and the Knights. A former club captain, Hagan played 111 first-grade games for the blue and reds and led them to their first finals series in 1992. In 2000 he returned to the Knights as reserve grade coach before taking over the top job in 2001. He immediately led the club to its second title, coincidentally against the Smith-coached Parramatta. 
However, Hagan was in no mood to reminisce yesterday. "Let's get on with the nostalgia at the end of the season," Hagan said. It remains to be seen how the next nine months pan out in rugby league-mad Newcastle, with relations between Hagan and some senior officials understood to be icy at best. Things turned sour last year as the Knights floundered through a difficult season. Having been hit hard by injuries, Newcastle slipped to the bottom of the table and Hagan was rebuked for criticising the Knights' facilities and finances. The club subsequently finished the season with the wooden spoon, winning only eight games. Hagan's former team-mate Paul Harragon, a club board member, joined football manager Steve Crowe and chief executive Ken Conway to inform the players of the decision yesterday. Hagan also spoke to his squad and assured them there would be no drop-off in intensity. "Hages had a chat with us and we went back to work," centre Matthew Gidley said. "He just said the club has decided not to renew his contract. He's still here for 2006 and he expects everyone to keep working hard." 
Several coaches have already been linked to the Knights job, including Parramatta assistant Peter Sharp, who has a strong relationship with Newcastle captain Andrew Johns. Smith could also emerge as a candidate along with assistants Jason Taylor (Parramatta), Royce Simmons (Wests Tigers) and Shane Flanagan (Sydney Roosters). Knights chairman Mike Tyler, who had previously ruled out turning to 1997 premiership-winning coach Malcolm Reilly, insisted Hagan would see out the season. "Hages is a good person who I know will try his best," Tyler said yesterday. Michael Hagan is going to work with the full support of the board. I don't see any change in that." 

I wanted to stay with Joey: Hagan -  January 15, 2006
DUMPED Newcastle coach Michael Hagan has revealed he wanted to stay at the NRL club for at least a further three seasons, until superstar captain Andrew Johns retires. The Knights board told Hagan on Friday that his contract would not be renewed beyond this season. Hagan and Johns led the Knights a premiership in 2001 and the coach is disappointed his association with the champion halfback will be cut short, as Johns has extended his contract with Newcastle until the end of 2008. "I was looking forward to continuing to work with Andrew Johns until he ends his career, and it's disappointing that isn't going to happen now," Hagan said. "I have worked with him for six or seven years and not a lot of people get that opportunity, so I am grateful for that. But to see him finish his career at the club would have been the preference and it's unfortunate that isn't going to be the case."
Johns has been troubled by continual problems with a knee injury that required surgery last month and doubts remain whether he will play out the next three seasons. But Hagan said he was happy with his champion playmaker's preparation for this season. Himself a former Newcastle captain, Hagan is upset at the way the year has started. "It was made very clear to me that I won't be working here beyond this year and now I need to consider what that means for the future," said Hagan, who took over the first grade job in 2001. I need to have a good look at things and talk them over with my family and decide what is best for us. What has happened was probably expected, so I did see it coming. But that doesn't make it any less disappointing. The board didn't give me any specific reason and it will be hard not to be here, given the club is putting some things in place that would have given a fair bit of assistance moving forward."
Speculation is rife that Hagan is set to sign with Parramatta, who have told Brian Smith he is no longer wanted after this season, a move Hagan did not rule out.
He said he hoped to have his future beyond 2006 sorted out before the start of the season. "It is something I will discuss with my family about how we would manage a move," he said. "But there are only 15 jobs in the NRL and it would be a great opportunity to coach at a club as strong as Parramatta."
Hagan said he had spoken to his players about how to deal with the situation and would continue to do so this week. But he said he wouldn't ask them to rally around him as he prepared for his final year with the Knights, who finished with the wooden spoon last season. I'm not looking for anyone to do that," he said. "We've still got a pretty good group of players, we're excited about the year ahead and certainly give ourselves a chance. It's the last year we will have as a group. Brian Carney is only here for one year, it might be Craig Smith's last year, and there are a number of players who have decisions to make on their futures. I hope what has happened doesn't have an impact on this season."

Hagan likely to coach Eels after Newcastle bid him goodnight
NEWCASTLE coach Michael Hagan looks set to take over at Parramatta in 2007 after the Knights yesterday announced they would not be extending his contract beyond this season. The Eels have reportedly been pursuing Hagan since November, when it was revealed last year's minor premiers would not be extending Brian Smith's stay at the club beyond 2006. Hagan this week informed the Newcastle board that he had received a formal offer from a rival NRL club, and asked that a decision on his future with the Knights be brought forward. "The Knights board had previously indicated they would not make a decision on Michael's future until mid-season," Newcastle chairman Michael Tyler said. "That decision was brought forward to today at the request of Michael, who informed the Knights board he had received an offer from another NRL club and asked for an answer on his future. Under those circumstances, the board made their decision not to extend the current contract."
While Parramatta chief executive Dennis Fitzgerald would not confirm yesterday whether the Eels had in fact offered Hagan a deal for 2007 and beyond, there appears little doubt the premiership-winning coach will be taking over from Smith next season. If the move is confirmed before the start of the season, it will add plenty of spice to the season-opening clash between the Knights and the Eels at EnergyAustralia Stadium on the second weekend in March. Hagan, who guided Queensland to consecutive State of Origin series defeats in 2004-05, was always considered the favourite for the Eels job ahead of a host of aspirants including Parramatta assistant coaches Peter Sharp and Jason Taylor. 
Sharp has now emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Hagan in Newcastle, having begun his coaching career there with the Knights' lower-grade teams in the early 1990s. Fitzgerald said the Eels wanted the position filled before the 2006 kick-off, so as to put an end to rumour mongering and to give Smith the best chance for success this season. Hagan, too, will have the full support of the Knights board in 2006 after the injury-plagued club took its first wooden spoon last season under his charge. But Tyler yesterday admitted it was probably time for a change at the helm, with Hagan now the club's longest-serving coach.
"Six years is certainly a long time at one club in the modern era, but we hope Michael's last season in charge is as successful as his first," Tyler said, referring to Hagan's effort in guiding the Knights to an upset grand final victory over the Eels in 2001. "He will certainly receive the club's full support in endeavouring to turn around last year's results and vie for the premiership in '06."

Hagan left high and dry; Knights missing in action as boss got the boot, says Ryan, Sun Herald. Jan 15, 2006. 
MASTER coach Warren Ryan believes Knights coach Michael Hagan should have received more support from his players. The Newcastle board told Hagan - Ryan's understudy at Newcastle before takking over in 2001 - on Friday that he would no longer be required after this season. As speculation about who would replace the premiership-winning coach continued yesterday, Ryan suggested Hagan could have been reappointed if the players had made it clearer that they wanted him to stay. "I'm surprised Michael hasn't got more support from the players," Ryan said. "They were keen for him to do the job in the first place when I retired. He was in favour with them then. "I don't know what's happened on that front ... but I would've thought they might have supported him more."
But Knights second-rower Clint Newton yesterday dismissed Ryan's comments, saying: "Right from square one the players have been kept in the dark. We weren't really in a position to support Hages. We just wanted to know before the season started what the situation was."
Knights management effectively pushed Hagan out by deciding to wait until mid-season to address the coaching situation. It is believed to be retribution for Hagan's criticism of the club's financial situation last year. Hagan had expedited Friday's meeting because he did not want to go into the season laden with uncertainty concerning his future. While he is tipped to announce a move to Parramatta soon, the Knights now embark on an international hunt for a replacement.
Newcastle chief executive Ken Conway revealed he had received tentative approaches from former and current first-grade and assistant coaches. "I'm not willing to discuss who has contacted us so far," Conway said. "But there has been interest from a number of highly qualified coaches. If anyone suggests anything else outside of that, it will be pure speculation."
Influential captain Andrew Johns is certain to have a say on the choice of a coach, while it has also been privately suggested board member and former captain Paul Harragon would be involved in a coaching role. However, Harragon, who told the players yesterday of the decision not to renew Hagan's contract, ruled himself out of the job when he signed a new deal with Channel Nine. He is close friends with Hagan's assistant coach, Rick Stone.
Reserve grade coach David Fairleigh is another candidate. It is uncertain if outgoing Eels coach Brian Smith or his assistant Jason Taylor are interested, but another possible candidate, Wests Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons, effectively ruled himself out yesterday, saying: "Unless they approach me, I won't be applying."
Newton deflected suggestions that the controversy concerning Hagan would affect the team's premiership aspirations this year. "I wouldn't say it fires us up, although we will be wanting to send Hages out a winner," he said. "At least now we will have some stability because we know what we're doing."
Ryan predicted the Knights and Eels would struggle because of the impending departure of their coaches. "Neither club is going to profit from the announcement that they are looking for a new coach next year," he said. "As professional as players are, and as thorough as they go about their work, their hearts aren't going to be 100 per cent into it."

Axed coach's $900,00 windfall -  January 15, 2006
MICHAEL Hagan is a fortnight away from agreeing to a $900,000 deal to succeed Brian Smith as Parramatta coach in 2007. Hagan all but confirmed he would take up the Parramatta job as Broncos legend Kevin Walters declared his interest in launching his NRL coaching career at the Knights – the club Hagan is leaving.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that after months of interest in Hagan, the Eels intensified their pursuit by tabling a three-year deal before Christmas. The deal, which is understood to be worth $300,000 a season, came in the wake of talks between Hagan and Eels supremo Denis Fitzgerald. And Hagan yesterday gave the strongest indication he would accept the Parramatta job after being informed by Newcastle management on Friday that this season would be his last in charge of the Knights. "It (the Parramatta job) is an option I'd definitely consider taking up," Hagan said. "Parramatta are a strong club, they have a good playing roster and part of the attraction is the resources and new infrastructure that we haven't quite had at Newcastle. "I have been offered a deal by Parramatta, but I don't want to elaborate. I'd rather concentrate on my job with the Knights."
Parramatta chairman Alan Overton last night refused to comment on the prospect of the club striking a deal with Hagan. But Newcastle's decision to sever ties is sure to accelerate talks and Hagan's appointment at Parramatta is expected in the next fortnight. Hagan, who delivered the Knights a premiership in his maiden year as coach in 2001, said he had no plans to stop coaching. "My initial thought was to continue in my role here for a couple more years, but that is not happening now and there are only so many coaching jobs available," Hagan said. "There's no ill-feeling with the Knights. I'm excited about the season ahead and I will see out my term."
With the Hagan issue resolved, the Knights will begin the search for his successor. In dire financial straits just eight months ago, Newcastle are now cashed-up following a recent $4 million sponsorship deal involving advertising tycoon John Singleton and will not baulk at paying top-dollar for their new coach. Walters, dumped as Wayne Bennett's assistant at the Broncos in September, last night said he would relish an opportunity at the Knights. "If Newcastle are interested, I wouldn't knock them back," he said. "I've picked up a lot from Wayne Bennett in the 15 years I have known him and now is the time to put that to use, as well as my own ideas. The Knights have a very exciting young team and it's a league-mad town. Working with 'Joey' (Andrew Johns) is certainly an attraction." 

Hagan happy with injured Johns' progress
The Newcastle Knights began training for the 2006 season on Monday, with several players still unable to train fully as they recover from serious injuries. Captain Andrew Johns is still unable to run after undergoing a knee reconstruction last year, while back rower Daniel Abraham is also recovering from a broken leg.
Coach Michael Hagan says most of the players seem to be in good shape after the Christmas break and he is happy with the progress of Johns. "Andrew Johns is progressing particularly well, he's back doing most things, he's not running yet, but he's looking to start running in the next week to two weeks and should be pretty well on track to start the season," he said.

Newcastle ends Hagan rumours - January 11, 2006
NEWCASTLE officials are ready to talk to Michael Hagan this week in an attempt to head off continuing speculation the premiership-winning coach has agreed to join Parramatta in 2007. Knights chairman Mike Tyler said yesterday the club was likely to seek clarification of Hagan's situation before the weekend. Hagan has been strongly linked with Parramatta, where Brian Smith has been told 2006 will be his last season in charge. That link has only been strengthened by Newcastle's failure to offer Hagan an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of this season. Hagan denied last night he had signed to coach Parramatta next year, but Tyler is clearly fed up with the rumour-mongering. "We'd certainly like to know because if that's the case we will move much more quickly then we might have," Tyler said. "Our position at the moment is Hagan is a nice bloke, we want to do the right thing. The rumours are running thick and fast. We have a football committee meeting on Thursday. We will discuss lots of things." 
Hagan and his manager Peter Tracey held talks with Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald last month. Tracey was unavailable for comment last night while Fitzgerald was reluctant to discuss the situation, although he said the Eels were on target to name Smith's replacement before the start of this season. 
Tyler reiterated the club's decision not to offer Hagan a contract extension was purely results-driven and nothing to do with comments last season in which the coach criticised the club's facilities and financial status. "Hages has a year to run on his contract, he will be coaching the team for this season," Tyler said. "We were concerned with winning the wooden spoon for the first time. The motivation of the board is results." 

Knights won't extend Hagan deal - January 13, 2006
NEWCASTLE rugby league coach Michael Hagan looks set to link with Parramatta in 2007, with the Knights today announcing that his contract will not be extended beyond this season. Newcastle chairman Michael Tyler said a decision regarding the former Queensland Origin coach's future was brought forward at the request of Hagan.  The Knights had originally planned to delay a decision until mid-season. Hagan this week asked for that call to be made earlier after informing the Knights that he had received an offer from a rival NRL club, believed to be Parramatta. The Eels had discussions with Hagan late last year after the 2005 minor premiers announced they would not be extending the contract of coach Brian Smith beyond 2006. 

Hagan signs for Parramatta, but it's hands off Eels until 2007 - January 23, 2006
NEWCASTLE coach Michael Hagan has officially signed a deal to coach Parramatta for three years from 2007, but has been told to stay away from the Eels to allow incumbent Brian Smith space to work. Hagan - Parramatta's No.1 choice to replace 51-year-old Smith, who has been told to move on after 10 years with the club - will contribute from a distance with recruitment and player-retention ideas, especially in the mid-season peak of player movement. "Physically, we thought it best that he [Hagan] stay away at this stage, so that this season can be all about Brian Smith," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said yesterday after Hagan agreed a contract until the end of 2009. He will be 100 per cent to the Knights but he will no doubt keep an eye on Parramatta's games through the television, which all the coaches do anyway, and passing on a few thoughts about team make-up and recruitment."
Fitzgerald said snapping up Hagan, 41, a season ahead of time was "a plus" and denied it would put extra pressure on Smith, whose authority with key members of the Eels team may possibly be weakened. But while Hagan's future with the Eels is sorted, there is a question mark over Hagan's tenure with the Knights, especially if Newcastle start the season poorly. The Knights, cashed up with a lucrative John Singleton sponsorship, may want a new coach as soon as possible.
It is understood the Knights have been compiling a list of possible replacements, and sounded out associates of two potential candidates. Hagan, who confirmed the job while in Wellington, New Zealand, with the Knights on a four-day camp, said he was relieved to have settled his future. "Parramatta sought me out to a fair degree and, in weighing up the situation in Newcastle and the future after that, the offer was there, and I think there is a lot to like about the Parramatta football club and their playing roster and professionalism," he said. Hagan said the fact the coaching position had been resolved would make the situation easier to manage than if it had dragged out for several more months. "When I signed with Newcastle I still had commitments with Canterbury and I didn't have any problems separating that," he said. "I can now focus on this year with Newcastle and the next three years with Parramatta; I don't think it will be a problem with any crossover."
Fitzgerald said the club was now able to focus on this season, and Smith would have time to seek a coaching position overseas or in the NRL. "Brian has the best ever chance to win a premiership this season - there is a good combination of players and great spirit among the players, especially after winning the Premier League last season," Fitzgerald said. "All the players want to give Brian a good farewell. It is a plus for Brian, too, because it gives him plenty of opportunity and time to seek a position here or overseas."  The Parramatta board was attracted to Hagan because of his youth, the fact he took Newcastle to a premiership, coached Queensland at State of Origin level and is a skilled communicator. Hagan was keen to sign a lengthy contract so as to minimise the disruption to his family and provide some certainty to their schooling. The Newcastle board refused to extend his contract with the Knights beyond this season.

Knights boss backs Hagan's integrity - Herald. Jan 24, 2006.
KNIGHTS chairman Mike Tyler believes coach Michael Hagan has "too much integrity" to poach players coming off contract to take to Parramatta next season.
Tyler was responding to comments by Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald that Hagan could "pass on a few thoughts about team make-up and recruitment" while still coaching the Knights this season. Hagan, 41, has signed a three-year $900,000 deal to replace Brian Smith at Parramatta next year after the Knights confirmed last week that his contract would not be extended beyond the end of this season. Tyler was confident Knights players off contract at the end of the season would not be targeted by Hagan. "I hold Michael Hagan in much too high regard to think that he would do anything like that to us," Tyler said. "I can't believe it would even occur to him." 
First-graders Kurt Gidley, Anthony Quinn, Jarrod Mullen and Todd Lowrie are off contract at the end of the season. Fitzgerald said on Sunday that he thought it would be best that Hagan "stay away at this stage so that this season can be all about Brian Smith. He will be 100 per cent to the Knights, but he will no doubt keep and eye on Parramatta's games through the television, which all the coaches do anyway, and pass on a few thoughts about team make-up and recruitment," Fitzgerald said after claiming Hagan would contribute to the Eels from a distance this year with recruitment ideas. Hagan will take up his contract in November. "I would expect that Michael would watch Parramatta and other teams' games. I don't see that as a problem," Tyler said. "The only issue we would have would be if he did anything of detriment to us like taking players, but I could not imagine that Michael Hagan would ever doing anything like that. I think he is a man of integrity."
Tyler laughed at a newspaper report that entrepreneur John Singleton, through his association with new sponsor Bluetongue Brewery, would have any input into a replacement for Hagan. The report said Singleton had consulted friend and former Knights mentor Warren Ryan and was supporting Knights Premier League coach David Fairleigh. "That was the funniest thing I have read in a long time," Tyler said. "Singleton or any sponsor will not have any input into selection of a coach."  Tyler said the coaching position had already generated interest in rugby league circles. "All we have done is have our first meeting to discuss the criteria we are looking for," he said.  "There has been no shortage of interest from the outside." 

Fans don't come finer than the red and blue; Sue Hagan. Herald. Aug 26, 2006.
A CAR accident and being told you may not play football again shattered all our hopes and dreams. Lucky for us Mike recovered and played the last six or so games of the season for Canterbury in 1988. That was a big year for us. As well as starring in a winning 1988 grand final for Canterbury, Mike and I were married.
Our contract at Canterbury was over and a team called the Newcastle Knights wanted Mike to play for them. What did we have to lose? We were young and just married, my family was from Newcastle so it was a place not too foreign to me. We packed up what little we had and made our first home at Lambton. I don't think Mike and I were prepared for the support of the Newcastle fans. Everyone loved their footy and everyone wanted to talk about it.
The International Sports Centre was also our new home and many friends came with it. I would like to thank them all for their support and friendship over the past 17 years. In 1989 Mike played State of Origin for Queensland, the Knights' first-ever representative player even though it was on the other side of the border.
In 1990 he became captain of the Knights, a role I knew he was very proud of. In 1991 our twin girls Melissa and Lauren, now 15, were born and I know a lot of supporters remember when they were born and like me can't believe how quick time has gone by. I will never forget the overwhelming generosity of Knights supporters. The total of gifts was 71! What an amazing bunch of people you all are. You made me feel so much at home in your town. Our last year with the Knights was 1993. Mike knew his football career was coming to an end so he decided to retire and finish his playing career in England. We came home in 1994 to have Danielle, who is now 12, and then returned to England for one last season.  A career in coaching was always in the back of Mike's mind and it only took a call from Mal Meninga and we were off to Canberra. We were always homesick, or should I say I was homesick for Newcastle. Then came the call to bring us home, an opportunity at the club and the town that meant so much to us. The year 2000 saw Mike coach first grade and then take over from Warren Ryan. What can I say about the year that followed 2001 I know I won't ever forget that!
State of Origin was back in our lives but from the coaching box. Mike was proud to coach Queensland. The year 2005 was one that I'm sure most people want to forget, but as I have learnt over the years, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. So we're in 2006, and as I sit here in the stand on our last official NRL game for the Newcastle Knights I want to thank each and every fan who has shared in our highs and supported us in our lows. To my forever faithful friend Lee Davies, the girls and I will miss you. No matter where life takes us now Newcastle will always be our home. Sue Hagan is the wife of Knights coach Mike Hagan.

Hagan delivers home truths; NRL LEAGUE 2006; Herald. Sep 7, 2006. 
RELAXING at his family's Redhead home, Newcastle Knights coach Michael Hagan gazed out over the Pacific Ocean from his Kingswood Country-era concrete balcony and let the first sea breeze of spring take him back to where it all began. The Knights had the bye in round 26, so Hagan was savouring a rare weekend off.
It would be another 24 hours before he knew his team's fate in week one of the finals a home clash with old foes Manly. "Going right back to the start, Newcastle showed a tremendous amount of confidence in me, particularly Michael Hill, Allan McMahon and Allan Bell," Hagan recalled. "I remember meeting them at the Gunyah Hotel [at Belmont] in the June or July of '88. I had played only a couple of games in second grade with Canterbury after coming back from a serious hip injury. "I remember [wife] Sue and I were stunned when Michael Hill said they wanted to build a team around me as five-eighth and captain. We didn't know much about Newcastle, but we were instantly sold. It was a beautiful day with the sun shimmering off the water."
A few months later, Hagan had replaced injured legend Steve Mortimer at halfback, steered the Doggies to victory over Balmain in the grand final and rewarded coach Phil Gould's judgement with a premiership. Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, the late Doggies patriarch, offered to beat Newcastle's money after the grand final. Hagan politely declined. "I had a handshake deal with Michael Hill and wasn't going back on it," he said. "We've been in Newcastle for a long time now. We've raised our family here. It's home. I still think there's people in Sydney or Brisbane who don't realise how good a place it is and what it has to offer."
If that opening gambit all sounds very Wonder Years to the strains of A Little Help From My Friends, mission accomplished. Though Hagan never shows it through his untarnished professional veneer, it has been an emotional season, even more so than usual. He knows his time is coming to an end at the Knights, who have become the great love of his footy life after he lost his cherry in a most satisfying way with the glamorous Doggies. "Once the offer from the Knights was on the table, we came up for a game against Penrith and sat on the hill," Hagan said, smiling.  "Sarge [Mark Sargent] was on the hill too, from memory, and was just as blown away as we were. Then and there I think we both decided we wanted to be a part of this club. To sit there among 20,000 screaming Novocastrians . . . Canterbury was an extremely proud, passionate club, but this was a unique atmosphere. It has always been an intense sort of interest. Everyone has a bit of ownership of the Knights and wants to know what's going on. There's a huge level of expectation."
The club has been the dominant force in Hagan's life since 1989, apart from a few years in England during the twilight of his career and five years with the Hunter Mariners and Canberra Raiders when the Super League war split the game down the middle. He played 111 games between 1989 and 1993 and has become the club's longest-serving coach since taking over from Warren Ryan in 2001 and delivering a premiership on debut. This season Hagan signed with Parramatta when the Knights board refused to guarantee his position. There were two schools of thought: Hagan had paid the price for missing the finals in 2004 and collecting the wooden spoon in 2005, or it was payback for his public criticism of the club's backward business practices. Whatever the motives, Hagan will be at Parramatta in 2007 and Brian Smith will be at Newcastle. That must seem like a long way away. While Smith's extended holiday continues, Jason Taylor is preparing the Eels for a daunting must-win battle against minor premiers Melbourne and Hagan is gearing up for one last crusade with his beloved Knights. "If you'd have said to me at the start that I'd have six years in this job, I would have taken it. But six years goes very fast," Hagan said. "Parramatta showed faith in me despite the rough trot of the past few seasons. It's fair to say I expected something similar here. "But all that has been water under the bridge since the decision was made. All my focus has been on doing the best I can for the football club and leaving on the best possible terms."

Team Hagan; COVER STORY; Herald. Sep 9, 2006. 
Amid all the furious backslapping that has accompanied the Newcastle Knights' return from the outhouse to the foyer of the penthouse, the powerbrokers responsible for punting coach Michael Hagan have been conspicuously silent. Leading up to last night's blockbuster semi-final against old foes Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Hagan quietly went about his business, as usual. A good showing in the finals would serve up another big slice of humble pie for the board and give Hagan the personal glow of vindication. "All the reviews in my six years here as head coach said the same thing: we needed to invest more money in player care," Hagan says. "A little over 12 months ago it got to the point where I'd had a gutful of raising the issue and seeing nothing done about it. A strong football club doesn't just happen by chance. I sincerely hope that when I come back in years to come with the Old Boys, the infrastructure is in place, the facilities are better and the team's going great."
Rumours of a rift between the coach and the board began doing the rounds last June, when Hagan and football manager Mark Sargent spoke publicly for the first time about the amateur business practices holding the club back. Sargent resigned as a result of the fall-out. Hagan stayed but was publicly carpeted by chairman Mike Tyler, who refused to guarantee his position beyond the 2006 season. As a result, Hagan signed with Parramatta earlier this season and the Knights snapped up Eels coach Brian Smith, who quit when his team were struggling to win a raffle after seven rounds. While Newcastle have surged to fourth position after the ignominy of not only missing the finals in 2005 but collecting their first wooden spoon last season, Parramatta have been reborn under Jason Taylor. If The Herald's letters page is any indication, the heartland fears that Tyler and Co. may have gone off half-cocked in sacking Hagan and picking up Smith. During an unrushed interview with Hagan and wife Sue at their Redhead home, it becomes obvious that the scars run deep, even though they're not about to point fingers and say "I told you so. The investment in full-time staff to handle specialist areas physio, massage, stretching, rehab has clearly made a massive difference," Hagan says while making a cuppa in the kitchen, which boasts a panoramic view of the beach. Something catches Sue's eye and it's not the breakers gently rolling in from the Pacific.
"Darling, did you think the teabag wasn't going to drip on the floor in that short distance between the bench and the bin?" she interrupts, rolling her eyes in mock indignation. "Wouldn't have thought to stir it over the sink, would you?"
Chastened like a hangdog debutant whose lairising has bombed a certain try, Hagan concedes the point before continuing. "Everything Sarge and I were pushing for would be considered minimum requirements at all other clubs," he says. "Those things were said with the club's best interests at heart. There were no personal agendas. The team deserved better. As I said, we're already seeing the results. Our missed games through injury have gone from something like 240 to 80. "We had three full-time staff and now it's six. There's still capacity to improve in that area. I'd describe the situation now as adequate, but certainly not optimum. We're still not where we need to be by any means in terms of infrastructure, but at least there's plans in place to get the ball rolling. And not before time."
Hagan says he feels no bitterness that he and Sargent were effectively crucified to get things moving and won't be around to reap the long-term benefits.
It is a measure of his commitment to the cause that "all the drama will be worth it" if the Knights are better positioned for the future. "The game's gone so far forward, you can't sit on your hands anymore," he says. "There's no doubt you need the knockabout mentality Newcastle is famous for, but you also need science."
Pushed further on the subject, Hagan admits it was "extremely disappointing" to have the support of the fans but not the board through the team's record losing streak last season. "For people at that level not to understand what we'd been through in the past couple of years with an unbelievable injury toll . . . you would have liked to have seen everyone stick together a bit and work our way out of it together," he says.  "As a team and supporters you did work your way out of it," Sue declares. You never wavered. You did every interview, never blew your stack, never dropped your bundle."
It was a winter's night in 1983 when Sue first set eyes on Michael while dining with her uncle, a Canterbury-Bankstown gear steward, at the Bulldogs' leagues club.
She had cheered for the impressive young playmaker with the manicured mullet in the lower grades at Belmore Oval and was excited when her uncle introduced them. "It was my first time ever in the club, so I'd just like to confirm that I wasn't a groupie," she laughs. "Mike walked in and I must have looked at him quite obviously. We got talking and struck up an immediate rapport."
Hagan, 19 at the time, left six weeks later to play the off-season for English side Halifax alongside fellow Aussies Paul Langmack and Martin Bella. Unable to tame the butterflies in her belly, Sue worked a full-time job and two part-time jobs to save for a plane ticket. "Maybe that's where our willingness to take a chance comes from," she says. "When I told Mum I'd met a guy who I felt very strongly about, she was quite happy for me to fly over there to be with him. We spent a month together. Two months later he came home. "We were married in 1988 and eventually had three beautiful daughters [twins Melissa and Lauren, 15, and Danielle, 12]. The rest, as they say, is history."
Sue has been by her man's side through all the highs and lows of his distinguished career. Her straight-shooting counsel has helped with many crucial decisions along the way. The first major call came in 1988 when newcomers Newcastle told Hagan they wanted to build a team around him as captain and five-eighth.
He starred at halfback in Canterbury's premiership team of that year, stunning critics who never expected him to come back from a fractured and dislocated hip sustained in a car accident on December 5, 1987. "We were driving with Jason Alchin and his fiancee to Darren Leaney's engagement party at Coffs Harbour when we collided head-on with two other cars near Urunga," Hagan recalls. "All I remember is ending up with one leg twisted up behind me on the seat and the other on the floor. The pain was excruciating. At that point my footy career wasn't looking all that good. "I'd played a game or two in second grade [at Canterbury] in '88 when I got a phone call from [former Knights chairman] Michael Hill saying they wanted me."
Sue recalls being gobsmacked at such a bold show of faith. "It's proof of your resilience that you came back and played 111 games straight for the Knights without it ever flaring up," she says, gazing respectfully at her life partner. "I didn't have any pace to start with," Hagan says, "so it didn't affect that."
Hagan became one of the game's craftiest leaders, taking Newcastle to their first finals campaign and earning his stripes in an all-star Queensland team that included the likes of Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Gene Miles. But he was to feel the wrath of Newcastle supporters when he returned to the city in 1996 from a two-year stint with Halifax and took up a media position with loathed Super League rivals the Hunter Mariners. Both he and Sue recall it as a trying time when emotions ran high and good people fell victim to the notorious blue-and-red siege mentality. Newcastle was the hot spot as the battle raged for control of the game.
Until ARL trump Phil Gould convinced Paul Harragon and the Johns brothers to stick solid with the Establishment at an 11th-hour secret meeting, it was anyone's guess which way the cards would fall. "The thing I found most difficult is that people actually thought we quit the Knights and went across the road for money with the Mariners," Sue says. "We were in England with three kids under the age of three and somebody was offering us a job. It was an awkward time," concurs Hagan, who had offered his services to the Knights but received no commitment in return. I'm better for having been through it in terms of handling things. You couldn't get a more difficult PR exercise, let me tell you."
There was nastiness from the pro-Knights lobby in the press and on the street. "You have to realise that malicious rubbish usually comes from people who don't understand or don't want to understand," Sue says. "It's like the kids at school who gang up on someone who's different. Mike was doing the right thing. At the end of the day he was looking after his family and getting a foothold in the career he wanted to be in."
Support from Mariners coach Graham Murray convinced Hagan to try his hand at coaching when Mal Meninga offered him the Premier League job at Canberra in 1999. "You should have seen us. It was another case of, 'Right, so that's where we're off to now'," Sue says. "I gained a best friend during our two years in Canberra, a mum I met at the school our kids went to. We keep in contact and catch up whenever we can. We'll be friends forever. We've got a lot of football friends who are all fabulous, but it's nice to meet people from outside the game."
Most Knights fans were happy to let sleeping dogs lie when Hagan was appointed to succeed Warren Ryan as head coach in 2001. He was feted as a home-town hero when he steered them to a premiership on debut. Some grudges, however, will never fade. "There were probably a few unflattering letters in The Herald when I got the job," Hagan chuckles. "But they're the ones who are still sitting in the seats, excited for Mike and the team as we get ready for another shot at the finals," Sue says. It's probably safe to say there's supporters and people within the club who don't like me, for whatever reason, to this day. Maybe they didn't rate me as a player either," Hagan continues. "If you worried about being liked by everyone, you wouldn't last in this business too long."
Sue Hagan says her husband drives her mad sometimes because he is so calm. She has long been impressed by his stoicism, like how he kept his chin up and never brought his disappointments into the home when the knives were out last season. "He was obviously drained, but he wasn't uptight or anything like that," Sue says.
Hagan has always tried to conceal his emotions in the public arena. "I can tell you I feel so much better now than I did this time last year, when I'd just lost the Origin series with Queensland and we couldn't get a win with the Knights," he says. There is a twinkle in the coach's eye when he is asked for a prediction ahead of the finals. The greatest player to lace on a boot, halfback and captain Andrew Johns, is back from a two-game suspension to lead a side capable of anything.
Loyalists can feel something special brewing. Brian Smith may inherit a premiership-winning team, after all. "At this time of the year you just want to put yourself in the frame," Hagan says. Sue bends down to kiss him twice on the lips before excusing herself to take the dog for a walk and pick up the girls from school.
"You've done much more than that already," she says. Sue has long been impressed by her husband's stoicism, like how he kept his chin up and never brought his disappointments into the home when the knives were out last season.

No time for sentiment as Hagan focuses on final task - Herald. Sep 16, 2006.
NEWCASTLE Knights coach Michael Hagan is showing his professionalism right to the end. Entitled to be bitter after the club showed him the door when the Knights collected last year's wooden spoon, Hagan is completely focused on the job at hand tonight's sudden-death semi-final against the Brisbane Broncos at Aussie Stadium. Parramatta-bound Hagan coached his last game in Newcastle when the Knights beat Manly 25-18 last week but has refused to take time to reflect on his situation. Hagan is the only former player to coach the Knights, and as a former captain he has been involved in a major part of the club's history.
"It has really been a case of just trying to stay involved with the preparation of the team this week," Hagan said. "I haven't really gone down that departing situation, and I don't really want to until I have to. "I know it's coming to an end, but I'm still enjoying the weeks that we are involved, so I'm not really thinking about that at this time."
Hagan will end his sixth season in charge as the longest-serving coach in the club's history. He started his playing career at Canterbury, where he played 80 games, before joining the Knights in 1989, and he made 111 first-grade appearances in the blue-and-red. He represented Queensland in State of Origin and was widely regarded as the brains behind the rough and rugged Knights teams in the early 1990s. Hagan's transition from player to coach was swift, and he finished playing with English club Halifax in 1995 and coached the Canberra President's Cup (under-21) side in 1998. A classy five-eighth on the field, Hagan moved up the ladder to first-division coach at the Raiders in 1999 and joined the Knights in 2000 in the same position under head coach Warren Ryan. Hagan tasted premiership success in his debut season as head coach and is looking to bookend his career at the Knights with grand final wins. "I think I've been pretty fortunate, to be honest, to have played and coached here for as long as I have," Hagan said. "I'm looking at it as a really positive experience, and I'd like to think that I'll come back at some point as part of the Old Boys or something. "The club has a very strong attachment to all its former players and former coaches, and I'd like to be part of that."  Hagan said before the season started that he would cast aside any emotion and concentrate on taking the Knights from worst to first. "We were confident with the team that finished last year that if we got ourselves into a good position this year that we would be as good a chance as anybody, and I still believe that to be the case," he said. "With the exception of Luke Quigley, the 17 we've got this weekend have all played around 15 games, and a lot of them are up over 20 games for the year. That's why we're still very confident in what we can still hopefully achieve for the remainder of the year because we've got a number of good players that have played a lot of good footy. To have David Seage, Steve Simpson and Danny Buderus participate in week one of the finals and then have all three ruled out in the space of one week is tough. [But] we've been able to win games this year without Danny Buderus when Riley Brown or Luke Quigley played or when Joey [Andrew Johns] didn't play and Jarrod Mullen played. I thing we've definitely improved in that regard, which I'm quite happy with."
 
Hagan tenure ends after six of the best; NRL - THE COACH; Herald. Sep 18, 2006. 
THE Michael Hagan era is over. At some stage this week the only man to captain and coach the Newcastle Knights will sit down and reflect on happier times in his long association with the club. On Saturday night he was still in shock after his depleted Knights side capitulated 50-6 against a brilliant Brisbane Broncos side to bow out of the NRL finals series. Hagan refused to let emotion take control of his preparation for Saturday night's sudden-death final, and to onlookers he seemed his usual composed self in the coach's box. Flanked by statistician John Davies and assistant coach Rick Stone, Hagan sat through the emotional roller-coaster from anxiety, frustration, anger, delight and realisation, as he did 154 times as coach of the Knights in his six seasons in charge. He joined the Knights in 1989 after 80 games for Canterbury and played 111 matches for them, the majority as captain, until 1993. Hagan will go down in history as the first player to coach the club, and his legacy will live long. The 42-year-old now heads into a three-year deal with Parramatta in 2007. "I was determined not to let that become a factor or to get involved in the emotion of maybe being the last game," Hagan said. "In the end I'm really grateful for the opportunity that I've been given to work with Andrew [Johns] and Matty Gidley and some of the younger players at our club. Some of those guys have been excellent for us, not only this year but in the way they have progressed. I've enjoyed working with some of the senior players at our club, and we've got the club to a better stage this year with our support staff, and there have been a lot of positives there for us."
Hagan was also grateful for the opportunity to work in tandem with Knights skipper Johns. "Andrew's going to be regarded as one of the best, if not the best player in the game," Hagan said. "To be able to work alongside him, and have a good friendship and relationship with him, is something I will always look back on and think, 'That was a pretty special period in my life at the club.'
"I've had a lot of good years at the football club as a player and as a coach, so I've got no regrets and I think I'm more fortunate than most to get that opportunity to work there for six years as a first-grade coach."  Johns sat beside Hagan in his last official duty as coach at the post-match media conference and spoke of the disappointment at sending the coach out on a sour note.  "Well, it's sad, isn't it?" Johns said. "I don't think Hages deserves to go out on that note, and Matthew Gidley, after what he has done for the club, and everyone else that's leaving us."
The pair were still able to force a smile when Johns was asked when he thought the game had slipped away from the Knights after trailing 24-0 at half-time.
"We tried not to look at the scoreboard at half-time," Johns said. "We spoke about just trying to play out the whole 80 minutes and not worry about the scoreboard or the score. You know, when it got to 50 I thought it might have got away."

My challenge at Parramatta - FIRST INTERVIEW: Michael Hagan takes over the Eels; The Daily Telegraph. Oct 28, 2006. 
MICHAEL Hagan has spoken for the first time about his plans and expectations for coaching new club Parramatta and life without Andrew Johns.
Speaking exclusively with The Daily Telegraph last night, Hagan talked of the Eels' perceived drinking issues, Parramatta's 20-year premiership drought, where to play Timana Tahu and talk he could only win with Johns in his side. Hagan has met football club staff and will start individual meetings with players between November 1 and 3. The club will then go into a three-day camp on the NSW central coast before starting official pre-season training. "The players need to get to know me and I need to get to know them," Hagan said. "I also have to learn about the club and how it operates."
JOEY JOHNS
Some say Johns coached Newcastle and Hagan cannot win without the superstar halfback. "That doesn't concern me," Hagan said. "I coached at Canberra in the lower grades before Newcastle and had success in that time. "That's been sorted out. "Joey is such an important part of the team but over the past year or two we have won matches with Jarred Mullen and Kurt Gidley. We moved past that and I'm looking forward to working with Brett Finch and Tim Smith."

THE BOOZE
Parramatta had five separate alcohol-related incidents last year. "There is a huge focus on the players' off-field behaviour these days," Hagan said. "It is something we may discuss with management and whether something could be put in place. "There were a couple of isolated incidents this year and they were given a strong run in the media. The club was going through a difficult period at that time."

THE DROUGHT
Parramatta have not won a premiership since Ray Price and Mick Cronin retired after beating Canterbury 4-2 in the 1986 grand final.
"I actually played in that match. I was in the centres for Canterbury on the beaten side," he said. "It has been quite a while for Parramatta since they won. But they've had plenty of success during the past decade. People shouldn't forget that. "Like all clubs we'll be striving to win the premiership next season."

JASON TAYLOR
Jason Taylor wanted the top job but Hagan got it. Interim coach Taylor then pushed Parramatta into the finals before joining Souths. "The situation was that Jason was looking for a first-grade coaching job," Hagan said. "I was of that understanding when it came time to consider the coaching staff. "He is now with Souths. Jason did a great job with Parramatta this year."

TIMANA TAHU
Centre Tahu fears he may be switched back to the wing, a position where Hagan used him at Newcastle. "There has been a little talk about this," Hagan said. "Timana has established himself as a centre over the past two years and that's where he'll play next year and beyond. "

THE KNIGHTS
Hagan left the club with a heavy heart but said the move was necessary. "On reflection maybe it was time. There were six or seven players who had been there for a while who may have wanted to hear a different voice and few different ideas," Hagan said. "I had done what I wanted at Newcastle. Maybe it was time for me to take on some other challenges. Parramatta offer those."

THE ROSTER
Hagan says the Eels have a perfect balance of experience and youth. "We have a pretty good roster, it's a good mix," Hagan said. "We have some experienced blokes in Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh, Michael Vella and Daniel Wagon. They'll play an active role. "And we have some good young blokes in Jarryd Hayne, Tim Smith and Ben Smith. The club is used to success and we'll be doing everything to ensure that continues.

2007 PREDICTION
Asked was a semi-final finish in 2007 the minimum he would expect, Hagan said: "That would be a starting point. The club did well to make the finals this year. I'm not going to make any bold predictions but we should be in for a successful season."

Hagan scraping the barrel at Eels November 11, 2006
PARRAMATTA have opened talks to extend the contract of NSW Origin star Timana Tahu, with incoming coach Michael Hagan indicating the club's emphasis next season was likely to be on retention rather than recruitment. As the Eels trained for the first time under Hagan yesterday, Brett Finch, Ian Hindmarsh and Todd Lowrie were the only new faces of note - despite the club's loss of a host of experienced players. Among those joining other NRL clubs are five-eighth John Morris (Wests Tigers), fullback Wade McKinnon (Warriors), second-rower Dean Widders and halfback Jeremy Smith (South Sydney), and centre Brett Delaney and winger Matt Petersen (Gold Coast), while prop Michael Vella (Hull KR) and lock Glenn Morrison (Bradford) are headed to Super League. But Hagan said the salary cap made it hard for clubs to recruit big-name players, particularly in the wake of the Titans' joining the premiership next season and competition from Europe. "In the Gold Coast and Souths, you had two football teams that were very aggressive in the market place and there are a lot of players going to the UK and earning a lot of money, so we're competing with a lot of forces at the moment, and the salary cap, while it has shifted a little bit, it hasn't really shifted too far," Hagan said. "Because of that, the spread of talent is going to be a bit thin and I guess the pressure to keep your best roster is pretty difficult. But I am pretty excited by the roster that is here, and the fact that there are a few young players who are under the radar that I would expect to come into first grade and play pretty well for us."
Parramatta have won the premier league competition for the past two years, and Hagan will look to some of those players to step up, but he also needs big seasons from the likes of Tahu and Finch if the Eels are to be successful.  Asked yesterday if his hooking days were over after being shifted into the front row last season by axed Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart, Finch said: "I hope so."
With Tim Smith the first-choice halfback, Finch has been promised the five-eighth jersey, and Hagan said he intended retaining Tahu in the centres after he had previously played him on the wing at Newcastle.  "I met with all of the players last week and I've got a fair idea of what their expectations are, and I think that Timana wants to establish himself as an outright centre in the game," Hagan said. "I guess even at rep level he's probably been picked on the wing a little bit, so I'm more than happy to try and help him along that path. We're looking to try and extend his deal so hopefully that can be sorted out."
The Knights' connection at Parramatta, which also includes Finch, Lowrie and fullback Luke Burt, extends to assistant coach David Fairleigh and premier league mentor Rip Taylor, who form part of a far bigger off-field staff than Hagan ever had at Newcastle.  "There's a cost attached to all of those things - to having the best people and having them on staff full-time - and I think the resources have certainly been very good here for a long time," Hagan said. "I'm fortunate that I've inherited a good football team and a very good set-up. It's something that I am grateful for and I'm looking forward to working with all of those people."