Gorden Tallis could be handed a role with the Kangaroos after all with the NRL reportedly considering him for an assistant coaching role.
Tallis was previously a forwards coach with the Rabbitohs but finished that role in 2011 when Michael Maguire started. He has since worked in the media and at the Titans as an ambassador.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports his next coaching role could be with the Kangaroos under his close friend Kevin Walters, with the ARLC to make a call next week.
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Last week, the Herald reported a cultural figurehead role for Tallis has been rejected.
Gorden Tallis. Â Getty
Tallis addressed that on Triple M and expressed belief he could still have a role.
“I’m pretty sure you’d be a bit of everything,” he said when asked what that role would be.
“You’d be at training every day, you’d look at video, help out the players, try to mentor … try to keep it light and relaxing off the field. If you’ve got to run the water or do whatever, I’m pretty sure that’s what you’d do.”
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Justin Holbrook and Brett White are the current assistant coaches of the Kangaroos. However, both men are club aligned with Holbrook at the Roosters and White at the Titans.
The ARLC has made clear its rule that head coaches can’t be club aligned with Mal Meninga removed from the role when he was appointed as Perth Bears coach. The same could apply to assistants.
Reportedly, English-based coaches Willie Peters, Adrian Lam, John Cartwright and Brad Arthur could be considered for the second assistant coaching position.
Cartwright was an assistant under Walters at the Broncos.