Looks like the Club want a fix asap, which you can't blame them for. It is worrying that they may sacrifice the right man for the job for someone who can get on board sooner. Slightly underwhelming, but will defer judgement until I see what he can do for us.

David Penna (born 25 July 1972) is an Australian rugby league coach and former player who played for the Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs during his long professional career.

Playing career

Penna made his debut for the Parramatta Eels in 1990. He played 22 games over four seasons, often at centre or five-eighth.

In 1994 he moved to join the South Sydney Rabbitohs and played 56 games for the club over four seasons, usually at centre or fullback.

In 1998 Penna returned to Parramatta where he was usually used at five-eighth before moving into the halfback position in 1999. In 2000 Penna was forced to retire after breaking his neck twice and suffering six concussions in the single season.

Coaching career

Penna turned his attention to coaching. In 2009 he coached an Italian XII and he is currently the head coach of the Manly Sea Eagles Toyota Cup side.

I've spotted a flaw already. If he can't pick the right number of players then we are well and truly goosed....

Don't know - we might actually do better leaving certain players out !

Well Barker has got Penna's age wrong he says 48 in the article

I would like to know the so called big name coach we were supposed to be getting so far everyone named as done nothing in there carrers so far this tells us one thing are club aint attractive enough to top coaches in the game. I would be intrested to know why

You'd be interested to know why we aren't attractive to top coaches?? I think you are being more than a little naive to think we could attract any top coach or player. We don't pay as much as most other SL clubs, we are constantly in the bottom 3 or 4, hardly any fans. I could name an awful lot of reasons but these will do for now!

Well presuming it is Penna then you have to hand it to our club. After the season so far I thought it would be impossible for many regular posters on here to become even more depressed, however, I think the appointment of the coach of the 2nd worst reserve grade side in Australia may just manage to push a few over the edge.

I cannot comment as all I know of Penna is what we all have posted. Maybe he is an expert at transforming messes.



My view (frequently and publicly stated) is we need someone who will urgently take over and radically reform the playing side of the club. That is why I feel we need an Australian as the "British" contenders would not bring fresh ideas that may upset the status quo. We need someone who will challenge and inspire: hopefully the recruitment team will have found this person.

In theory we find out tomorrow.

My concern is that as soon as Penna (or whoever else) takes over, the fans will be on his back as soon as we turn in a poor result/performance.

If it's an unpopular appointment (which it almsot certainly will be, as most of the candidates mentioned on here have been unpopular or unrealistic) fans will be looking for an excuse to slag him from Day 1, which is never going to go anywhere good.

A new coach will need until at least this time next year before they can be fairly judged, which seems to be about 11.5 months longer than the average Salford fan's patience lasts.

I agree
I really hope this appointment works,if the rumours are confirmed, and we must give him every chance to succeed and look for the positive signs.
I hope the fact that he is available immediately did not swing it,over a better candidate.
From the outset,I said we did not want an Aussie purely because he was an Aussie.
On the face of it this is not the appointment we were hoping for but the exec team have been over there interviewing so let's trust their judgment.

Yes we are Salford and everybody knows we struggle to attract big names, but Dave Penna smacks in the face of the 'cheap option', once again!!!! Like when the press reported we were after Morley, but signed Edmondson instead. i.e. the cheaper option!!!! Penna, doesn't strike me as an ambitious signing by the club. I'd much rather see the Australian national team assistant coach at the end of the season, than settle for second best part way through this one.

They showed some ambition in the last off season, by signing what appeared to be some quality players, but left the glorified paper weight that is Shaun McRae in charge. This could be a massive mistake by our board, yet again, as the fail to grasp the importance of having the right coach in charge.

I never expected a Cartwright, a Fitler or a Ricky Stuart, but i'm getting seriously cheesed off by the press building up underwhelming news and performances never changing. I could be wrong, and Penna could turn out to be the best thing to happen to the club in a long time. Right now this isn't an appointment that really fills me with any confidence.

Maybe Barker has just made the whole thing up and it won't even be an issue.

The club are doing their best to throw everybody off the scent. Think Penna was thrown in to really confuse everybody, although to be fair, they have never really given us a name. However, there is currently a former assistant coach from the cowboys available right now who could emerge as a front runner. Some think he's got the job if he wants it.

so many people only one job....

TBF even I'd prefer Millward to some unknown, If I were to choose anyone I would have hunted John Kear.

So it's you that through Penna in.

I've heard it's close between Harry Bishop and Louis Carpenter - both from the Melbourne area. Coudl be a positive as they may have learned from Craig Bellamy.

Well, I'd prefer someone who has a good home and away record actually.

Not in so many words. Penna was a name that was being heavily linked in a number of areas, and a few thought it was going to be him. However, that option isn't looking likely. Steve Georgalis was highly thought of too, but he is after the Penrith job. The name now being touted is that of one who wasn't mentioned as being one of the seven contenders that were reported. This guy is available soon and is currenty working within the NSW Origin setup. I'm only passing on stuff I hear from people in the game, and letting you all in on it.

don't you know it's all part of a big plot to announce John Kear before the match on Friday so all the Wakey fans can wave him goodbye and wish him all the best in his new career at Salford

PIPPA! Gawd bless her.

Any of these chaps?

press conference tomorrow at 11.30 at the willows to announce the new coach

Have we got anyone on lookout at Mcr Airport?