Steamers giant turned coach wants more for Ngongotaha

When former Steamers giant John Moore played rugby he was an uncompromising, no nonsense lock who didn't take a backward step with his opposition.

As the new coach of Ngongotaha senior A side - he still is a giant of a man towering above many on the sideline - the new role has brought out a softer more philosophical side to the 1.99m former lock for the Steamers.

"Yeah, I tend to listen to people a lot. I always give people the chance to talk to me and I always listen, then I tell them whether I take it on board or not. I think everyone has an opinion in the team and in the club," Moore said. "If I stay calm then, hopefully, they'll stay calm. If you see in our team there is plenty of heart and plenty of grunt there. It's about keeping them calm and working together."

In fact, Moore looks quite at home as head coach. No better example of this was in their first match of the 2012 club season - as his side took on Marist St Michael in their first match of the Banner Round. It was an easy 33-10 win at the weekend.

"We did all right, I was quite happy. We had good discipline mostly. They are still young players but a lot of them are playing their third year of Senior A. So they're probably a bit more experienced at that level of rugby."

Moore played 65 games for the Steamers from 2000 to 2010, scoring one try for the Bay.

Despite his success for the blue and gold, there is one achievement in club rugby Moore hasn't managed.

"I've played for [Ngongotaha] for [about] 15 years ... I've never won a Baywide. I've played in a final and I've played in four semis and lost all of them and I still have a desire to win."

The 33-year-old's coaching philosophy for his club is simple.

"I think with any rugby team it's about culture-setting boundaries, rules and discipline and if the players buy into it, I think you're guaranteed to have a successful year. If they don't buy into it, you're going to struggle the whole year for nothing."

Although he was uncompromising as a player he said it's not the way to run a modern rugby team.

"You have to adjust, you can't be hard nosed. Everybody needs encouragement, especially players. Coaches too, they need encouragement. There is only two types of coaches, I believe - ones that have been sacked and the ones that are going to be sacked."

Moore told The Daily Post yesterday, Ngongotaha have made the semis of their division for the past couple of years and he was keen to continue that success.

Ngongotaha will have their first real challenge on Saturday, when they travel to play last year's Banner winners Whakarewarewa. The game kicks off at 2.30pm.

 

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