Cairns looks to future, not the past

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NEW Poverty Bay Heartland rugby coach Tom Cairns prefers to look to the future, not the past.

When asked why one of the bigger Heartland unions had under-achieved in recent seasons, Cairns said: “I don’t think about what happened in the past; I prefer to focus on the future.

“If you keep looking back, you can’t go forward.

“The players will start with a clean slate . . . everyone will get a fair crack at selection,

“I ran a couple of scrum sessions this year so I know the players. It’s a challenge but an exciting one.

“I’m keen to work with individual players, working on conditioning, strength, technique, and creating a culture and team environment where players respect the jersey and want to play for it.

“My preference is to use local players but they have to put their hands up.”

Cairns has not yet named his management staff.

“I know what I want and what I want to happen. I’ve already starting talking to a couple of people.

“It’s not all about me.

“We need a strong management staff.

“We need the players to buy into what we want from them.

“The union and the community also have a role to play.”

The Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 teams that Cairns coached — during successful and lean seasons — enjoyed big crowd support.

They regularly attracted more spectators to the Rectory than the games at Rugby Park.

However, although the Bay finished second bottom this season, there were signs that Bay supporters were returning to the Park.

“Winning helps, and that’s one of the aims for next season,” Cairns said.

“But it’s going to take a collective effort from everyone involved.”