Former Eels coach Brian Smith has reportedly made a shock pitch to the Parramatta board to return to the club and take over the position he held for 10 years.
Smith coached the Eels across 243 games from 1997 to 2006 and has now reportedly joined Josh Hannay, Jason Ryles, Dean Young and Trent Barrett in the race to replace Brad Arthur.
That is according to the SMH, who reported Smith secretly entered the mix and has since held a lengthy meeting with Eels powerbrokers.
Barrett is reportedly fallen out of the race for the role, while Hannay, Ryles and Young are all rookie coaches, making Smith a point of difference in the club’s search.
Smith has coached 601 NRL and NSWRL games, dating back to his time with Illawarra beginning in 1984 before stints with the Dragons, Eels, Knights and Roosters.
The 70-year-old is the third-most capped NRL coach of all time and was only last year taken over as the most experienced Eels coach by Arthur.
Smith, during his meeting with Parramatta bosses, reportedly told them his blueprint to turn the club’s fortunes around which included the return of former physical performance manager, Hayden Knowles.
However, it’s reportedly unlikely he wins the race to become the Eels next head coach.
Throughout his illustrious career Smith was never able to win a premiership and he reportedly is keen to have a final crack, having coached in grand finals in 1992, 1993, 2001 and 2010.
It’s previously been expected that Parramatta bosses would inform the successful candidate they had secured the job following the Eels’ clash on Thursday night.
However, that decision could still take up to a week as the club’s powerbrokers continue to make their decision as the Eels’ squad wait eagerly to find out who their next coach will be.