Two internationals, one Dally M Medal winner, the Tongan assistant Test coach and an ex-Manly and Cronulla coaching staff member.
Canterbury’s coaching team for next season is nearly complete.
News Corp Australia can reveal Sharks assistant Craig Sandercock – who worked with Barrett at Manly – has signed a three-deal deal as a
Bulldogs assistant coach.
Craig Sandercock (left) during his time at the Knights.
North Queensland’s David Tangata-Toa – the Tongan assistant - has become a leading contender to join former Test star Barrett’s coaching staff as a development, pathways and transitional coaching assistant.
While no deal has been announced, Newcastle assistant and former Australian forward David Furner is expected to be appointed lead assistant coach at Canterbury.
And completing the coaching roster at Belmore is former Wests Tigers head coach Mick Potter.
Potter will coach Mounties next season – Canterbury’s feeder club - in the Canterbury Cup. He is a former Bulldogs’ premiership-winning fullback who also claimed the Dally M Medal while playing at Belmore in the mid-1980s.
The Barrett-Furner-Potter-Sandercock-Tangata-Toa coaching roster has Canterbury fans confident of immediate success next season.
Trent Barrett is close to assembling his coaching team. Picture: Getty
Sandercock’s appointment on Tuesday clearly shows Barrett has no plans to walk away from
Canterbury – as had been suggested by former coach Phil Gould – due to boardroom issues.
Tangata-Toa is the Tonga assistant coach and a former lower grade at St George and Cronulla. He played his first grade football with English clubs Hull Kingston Rovers and Celtic Crusaders.
Some are suggesting Tangata-Toa’s deal would also span three-years once finalised. He is currently helping interim Josh Hannay coach North Queensland after Paul Green left the club mid-season.
Knights assistant David Furner is the last piece of Barrett’s puzzle. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty
Furner – a former Kangaroo second-rower - was among the final three candidates for the St George Illawarra job which was handed to Anthony Griffin.
Barrett supported Furner’s pitch for the Dragons job. Furner wants a return to Sydney for family reasons. He has enjoyed success at every club he has coached.
Sandercock is Cronulla’s defensive coach but may be
asked to oversee attack at Canterbury.