Good coaches are becoming more and more valuable by the season.
We've seen what Ivan Cleary has been able to build at Penrith, while the Storm have never had an extended dip.
Benji Marshall seems to finally have the Wests Tigers on the right path, Kieran Foran has transformed the Sea Eagles almost overnight and Michael Maguire came in a won a title with the Broncos in his first season.
Today though, we're looking at some decisions that have either gone wrong or are just outright wrong.
Typically I don't like to focus on the negatives in the game but after the week I had to endure (hello "obstructor" rulings) I believe I've earned it.
With that said, here are five of the top coaching errors of 2026 ... thus far:
2. Shane Flanagan picking players based on 2022 (or earlier) - Entire season
Shane Flanagan has copped a lot of grief over the opening six weeks but if you have players like Clint Gutherson, Damian Cook and Valentine Holmes, of course you're going to pick them.
In 2022!
Flanagan's refusal to select young guns Kade Reed and Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga have fans, rightfully, pulling their hair out.
He is literally coaching for his career at this point. There's no club out that is going to take his application seriously.
How he's not throwing the young guns out there and hoping they can produce something better, or slightly less terrible, is unfathomable!
At 0-4 you'd think changed would be made. Nope. 0-5 though is surely the moment? Nah, not for Flanno.
I guess we'll see over the weekend if any late changes are made but as it stands, it's unchanged (other than injuries) again for the bloke who will soon be the ex Dragons coach.
