Home Australia NRL on the verge of SACKING Jillaroos coach Brad Donald after he allegedly made shocking comment about a reporter in front of his team

NRL on the verge of SACKING Jillaroos coach Brad Donald after he allegedly made shocking comment about a reporter in front of his team

0 comments
Australian Jillaroos coach Brad Jones faces uncertain future over allegations he made inappropriate comments about a journalist in front of the national team
  • Jillaroos coach faces uncertain future
  • It comes before the historic match in Las Vegas
  • ARL president Peter V’landys involved

Brad Donald’s future as Jillaroos coach is under threat as the NRL prepares to finalize an investigation into a derogatory comment allegedly made in front of players.

Donald, coach of Australia’s women’s team since 2016, has endured a turbulent few months after making headlines last October when he removed Dally M medalist Olivia Kernick from his Pacific championships team.

But AAP understands a separate incident has been the subject of an internal NRL investigation involving the league’s human resources department since that tournament.

The matter has reached the desk of Australian rugby league president Peter V’landys and will be finalized as soon as next week, when a final call will be made on Donald’s future.

It comes as the Jillaroos players prepare for a one-off test in Las Vegas in March, having been added to the card for the NRL’s season-opening American event.

Sources have told AAP the issue relates to Donald allegedly using an expletive to refer to a journalist in front of players while airing frustrations about the coverage late last year.

Australian Jillaroos coach Brad Jones faces uncertain future over allegations he made inappropriate comments about a journalist in front of the national team

The investigation into Jones' conduct comes after the bizarre decision to drop Dally M medalist Olivia Kernick (pictured) from the Pacific Championships team

The investigation into Jones’ conduct comes after the bizarre decision to drop Dally M medalist Olivia Kernick (pictured) from the Pacific Championships team

Australian rugby league president Peter V'landys has become involved in the investigation as the league is expected to make a call on Donald's future

Australian rugby league president Peter V’landys has become involved in the investigation as the league is expected to make a call on Donald’s future

At least one player shared details of the interaction more widely, before the NRL became aware and began its own investigation.

The saga has been complicated by the fact that Donald has two separate contracts in the NRL, as national coach and general manager of the women’s player pathways.

As such, the issue has been handled by human resources rather than the NRL’s integrity unit.

Any potential sanction will only directly impact Donald’s role as Jillaroos coach.

The incident, after Kernick’s snub of Donald from Australia’s Pacific Championships team raised eyebrows at league headquarters and among pundits, has increased pressure on the coach.

Both Donald and the NRL declined to comment when AAP was contacted.

Donald was due to lead a Jillaroos camp on the Gold Coast last weekend ahead of the team’s historic test match against England in Las Vegas on March 1.

But that camp was canceled at the last minute without any clear explanation.

Donald has been a long-time employee of the NRL, having started working as a game development manager in Queensland in 2002.

The timing of the investigation is not great for the Jillaroos who are just weeks away from playing a historic game in Las Vegas

The timing of the investigation is not great for the Jillaroos who are just weeks away from playing a historic game in Las Vegas

Since then, he has become one of the most prominent and influential drivers in the women’s space, as he coaches the Jillaroos through their most dominant era.

Her time in charge of the national team has also come at a time when the women’s game has risen rapidly in Australia and turned professional at the top level.

Donald led Australia to World Cup victories in 2017 and 2022, and at one stage took the Jillaroos on a seven-year, 15-match unbeaten run before their only loss to New Zealand in 2023.

The veteran coach had seen lead the Jillaroos to another title in 2026, and was praised for his trail work during last year’s inaugural Las Vegas venture.

But her decision to drop starter Kernick was widely criticised, days after she was named the NRLW’s best player.

Donald later claimed that part of his decision was due to Kernick coming off the bench in the State of Origin, when in fact he started for NSW.

Australia went through the Pacific Championship undefeated, thrashing Papua New Guinea 84-0 before recording 14-0 and 24-4 wins over New Zealand.

It was during the final week of that camp that Donald was understood to have made the alleged comment that sparked the ongoing investigation.

(Tagstotranslate) DailyMail (T) Sport (T) Nrl (T) Nrl (T) Australia (T) Las Vegas

You may also like