I agree.
But I will take an advocacy position to offer counter argument:
If there is a personality type in the NRL that could cope with this dynamic which threatens the ego's of most men/women - it is
Andrew Webster.
I say that because all the evidence is that
Webster is a psychology based coach, man management and being analytical and emotionally intelligent from a people based approach is his bread and butter.
We know this by the deft way he has handled personnel. No more evident than the
AFB affair, which
Webster handled sensitively deftly, and most importantly effectively (a dressing room mutiny that was shut down from a media circus and the player takes their punishment quietly and comes back performing at previous levels without ongoing drama).
He is also secure within himself.
Webster already works for an owner that sees themselves as an Alpha male, and while we do not know the inner workings of that relationship, we do know that
Mark Robinson has made a long term commitment to
Webster, so
Webster walks the walk already (he has won over a so called strong identity and has made the decision that their relationship is viable - together these very different men make amazing things happen).
For a
Webster Ivan two headed monster to work, Ivan's role would have to be defined by
Webster and
Mark Robinson from day one - with VERY clear boundaries (most obvious example is no involvement in coaching decisions of the team un solicited).
As such, Ivan would need to be happy to work with
Webster as his equal, with Ivan's role as I stated being a support role.
What we are talking about is a professional supervisor, someone that
Webster would sound out their experience in dealing with coaching life, rather than someone that makes coaching suggestions, unless
Webster specifically asked in one of their sessions "in this scenario what would you have done and why?" rather than "this is what I would do". And Ivan if he is the right guy would reply with a process answer like "In such examples I went with the attacking player because they were meeting their work on's at the time, otherwise I would have chosen a safer route. This is a very different way of communicating than Ivan saying "I think you should pick
TMM at Five eight over Channel".
If this were a serious discussion (as in there was a real chance Ivan returns to the Warriors which I think is zero) then you are quite right to point out how this could upset the apple cart.
Lets not forget that the Warriors are a special case. They do not have the advantages of changing their roster like the other clubs can, the Warriors are stuck with second choice imports largely and local projects.
As such the Warriors have a psychological and practical handy cap vs the rest of the comp, they traditionally run low on confidence, they struggle for consistency and resilience, they lack the strength that comes from a history of success.
These are the reasons the Warriors are known as a confidence side, when they are up they are world beaters, when things get hard they collapse.
Well at least that was all true before
Webster came along and started turning around insecure low on confidence players like
Montoya,
DWZ, Latterly
Clark, guys that were rejects from other low level clubs.
It is also why we see
Webster drop greenhorns who have had a decent debut back to reserve grade, to manage the pressure on them where other clubs would use and abuse them, but the thing is, other clubs can trash their young guns because if they fail, they just go out and import someone elses star juniors from the Aussie player tree.
Webster is the perfect fit for the Warriors, a counsellor and mentor as much as a coach, a guru of sports psychology, getting the most out of humble doings, and yet we even see Ivan ruthlessly buying up our juniors (what is wrong with Ivan's junior hothouse in Penrith???).
Webster took the Warriors gig to get away from being under someone else, to take the risks head on in becoming his own master. And he has been wildly successful.
Which raises the last point I will make about an Ivan role. If
Webster feels enough time has passed, enough separation, enough independent growth as his own man, as a NRL head coach then it could work.
In other words, ask
Webster. Or don't do it.
Off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2027: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Will be off contract and free to sign elsewhere for 2028 from November 1st, 2026: Mitchell Barnett, Erin Clark, Jett Cleary, Wayde Egan, Kayliss Fatialofa, Jackson Ford, Sam Healey, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Ali Leiataua, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Motu Pasikala, Adam Pompey, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
