Graham Lowe: Coaches by the coachload

COMMENT

Maybe Warriors boss Mick Watson should include a bit of North American history among his reading material for the beach this summer.

I'd commend to him the military strategies of Chief Sitting Bull, because the biggest danger Watson faces next year appears to be one of having too many chiefs and not enough Indians as he attempts to turn the Warriors' fortunes around.

Obviously, the New Zealand club's front office believes the 2004 coaching staff line-up was too thin.

Watson has reacted by signing former playing stars Ivan Cleary and Kevin Campion to assist Tony Kemp, Tony Iro, John Ackland and the various conditioning coaches out at Ericsson for their one team.

I have great respect for all these guys as former players.

But I would have thought the Warriors had a need for one genuinely credentialled, experienced and proven professional coach, and that does not appear to be the case here.

This collective coaching set-up is fraught with danger and if I were the current head coach, I wouldn't be feeling too comfortable about it.

One of the team's problems is that they have been subject to over-coaching in the past and this will only get worse with the cast of coaches named for next year.

It was a mistake to let Cleary and Campion go as players, but I sense it could be just as much of a mistake bringing them back together as coaches.

Their professional attitude and playing experience is one thing and they can work under any fancy title you like but it does not disguise the fact that the club still does not have an experienced and successful top-flight coach.

Daniel Anderson proved to be a gifted young coach when he was at the club, but something in his manner seriously unsettled the younger players, particularly the Polynesian boys. The Ali Lauitiiti shambles finally proved Anderson's downfall.

With an experienced football shoulder to lean on, Anderson could have avoided this situation and gone on to become a great coach. But the experience wasn't there then and it isn't there now.

Playing is a young man's game but coaching is another matter. Unless the club is prepared to get a few silver hairs around the place I fear the coaching graveyard at Penrose will be significantly expanded next year.

OUT of the shambles of the 2004 season some good players have emerged.

Back rower Wairangi Koopu plays consistently well and his big front row team-mate Iafeta Paleaaesina has the size and speed to develop into the most damaging forward the club has had since Joe Vagana.

Louis and Vinnie Anderson look destined for good futures and Jerome Ropati has been a great find for the club. But for me Brent Webb has been the player of the year.

Playing at fullback behind a losing team, Webb has still managed to always look one of the best players in the game.

IN this column 18 months ago I strongly criticised the New Zealand Rugby League over Daniel Anderson's appointment as Kiwi coach while he was coach of the Warriors.

I said then it would cause problems sooner or later and it gives me no pleasure to see that my prediction was right, judging by the situation over the non- availability of Warriors players for the Kiwis Tri-Nations matches next month.

In my view, that sort of decision-making by players disrespects a jersey that has been proudly worn by players over the years who would do anything to represent their country.

Current Kiwi selector and NRL judiciary member Darryl Williams is a shining example of the type of toughness and commitment that is required to be a Kiwi test player.

He was a courageous player for Manly and the Kiwis and often tried to hide injuries so as not be ruled out of test contention.

Ironically, it could just turn out to be the biggest blessing in disguise for Anderson as he contemplates his squad for the Aussies and Brits.

Players should be prepared to crawl over broken glass to play for the Kiwis. Unfortunately, that attitude has not always been there. Some players have appeared to be in cruise control, and the attitude around the Kiwi camps has been too much like an old mates club.

Our international reputation in recent times has become very ordinary when we have more talent than ever to choose from.

Now, a new-look Kiwi side built around the Bulldogs' teenage sensation Sonny Bill Williams and a host of other talented and motivated players from the NRL and the English Super League will have the hunger to restore some pride back into the game in this country.

My mouth waters when I consider the talent that is available for Daniel Anderson to pick from.