Top 10 coaches without an NRL club

There have been a huge number of NRL coaches over the years and many lose their jobs and end up without a club to coach at. With many rumours of coaches leaving their current roles, we look at the 10 best former head coaches. Matthew Elliott Matthew Elliott is a coach with plenty of experience in the NRL. Elliott spent many years at both the Raiders and the Panthers and has shown he can manage a squad and succeed at the highest level. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="612"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: Warriors coach, Matthew Elliott looks on from the side lines during the round one NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the New Zealand Warriors at Pirtek Stadium on March 9, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)[/caption] Tim Sheens Tim Sheens has a wealth of coaching experience, with his NRL level coaching beginning back in 1984. Sheens spent a number of years as the Kangaroos coach and as such has extensive experience working with the best players. Geoff Toovey Geoff Toovey was given the incredibly tough task of replacing Des Hasler as the head coach of the Sea Eagles, and did a surprising good job for a rookie coach. To many it seemed to be an odd decision to sack Toovey given his success and he will surely coach in the NRL again. [caption id="attachment_24996" align="alignnone" width="1024"] TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 30: Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey looks on at the post match media conference at the end of during the round 12 NRL match between the North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly Sea Eagles at 1300SMILES Stadium on May 30, 2015 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)[/caption] John Cartwright John Cartwright spent many years with the Titans, and has taken the club further into the competition than any other coach has been able to. It is unsurprising that he has had many assistant coaching jobs since his time at the Gold Coast. Neil Henry Neil Henry is perhaps one of the best coaches when it comes to building a strong squad and recruiting good players. Henry has shown what a great coach he is at both the Cowboys and the Titans. [caption id="attachment_28657" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 01: Coach Neil Henry during a Gold Coast Suns NRL training session at CBus Super Stadium on March 1, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jason O'Brien/Getty Images)[/caption] Michael Hagan Michael Hagan spent time as an NRL head coach with both the Knights and the Eels and was quite successful with both the clubs. Despite not coaching an NRL club since 2008, Hagan has remained in rugby league with a number of assistant coaching positions, including his current role as Kangaroos assistant coach. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="612"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Eels coach Michael Hagan talks to the media after the round 18 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Parramatta Stadium July 15, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)[/caption] Brian Smith Brian Smith clearly has a passion for coaching and has worked at a large number of clubs over many years. Smith has been coaching since 1984 and has spent time with many clubs including the Dragons, Roosters, Eels and Knights. Smith has made four grand finals in his time as an NRL coach. [caption id="attachment_7512" align="alignnone" width="620"] One of many considered for Warriors job[/caption] Anthony Griffin Anthony Griffin’s recent sacking came as a shock to many NRL fans as the former Panthers coach had consistently found success with the club. Griffin is a great squad manager and helped rebuild both the Broncos and the Panthers when he was hired. Des Hasler Despite the poor state Des Hasler left the Bulldogs club in, his coaching ability cannot be questioned. Hasler won two premierships at Manly, and turned the Sea Eagles into one of the best clubs in the NRL for many years. A further two grand finals with the Bulldogs showed he could succeed at more than one club. [caption id="attachment_25038" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Bulldogs coach Des Hasler during a Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs NRL training session at Belmore Oval on March 13, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)[/caption] Michael Maguire It was a huge surprise when the Rabbitohs decided to sack Michael Maguire. As head coach, Maguire delivered the club a premiership and it is no surprise that he has already been hired as the New Zealand international coach. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="612"] during the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL training session at Redfern Oval on June 6, 2017 in Sydney, Australia.[/caption]