Andrew McFadden
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden returns to his home town of Canberra for tomorrow's NRL clash. The 36-year-old, who was elevated to head coach mid-season, chats about his aims, playing career, moving to New Zealand and other footy topics.
Is it a good feeling, returning to play your old club as a head coach?
It's nice to go home and see family and friends but it's a short trip and trying to squeeze everyone in is hard. And I'm there to win for the Warriors.
You took over as Warriors coach at a crisis time ... how do you mark yourself so far?
We have improved key areas, one being consistency. We've had blips but haven't been blown off the park which is a good measure, but we still need to find a better game.
Which coaches influenced you most?
My last two ... they were chalk and cheese. Brian Smith was an innovator. I remember during pre-season practising short kickoffs once a week ... he was ahead of the game in tactics. Craig Bellamy taught me about discipline.
How do you instil that discipline?
Clearly set standards with consequences ... it might be as simple an issue as not bringing their [computer] tablets or failing to input their daily wellness. The players have their internal system of consequences. They roll a dice, with different punishments from one to six. The obvious one at the moment is having to dye their hair. Early in the season, one punishment was catching public transport in full training gear.
Your favourite opponent as a player ...
I loved playing against Andrew Johns. Obviously he was a brilliant player, but a real character and genuine nice guy. I remember he gave me his shorts after one game in Canberra - I think we beat them. I was pretty chuffed.
Who was the worst sledger?
Craig Field ... that was his style. It didn't annoy me really but I remember it was relentless for the whole game.
Career highlight?
Playing at Canberra alongside the players I looked up to as a kid - Laurie Daley, Bradley Clyde, Brett Mullins, etc. I was like a deer in the headlights at my first training. I remember trying to work hard and impress them.
If you weren't a footy coach ...
I wanted to be an architect ... I did a year of engineering because the university I was at didn't have architecture at the time.
Mt Smart. Eden Park. How big is the home ground issue at the Warriors?'
Big ... the Warriors want to be here for a long time and while we love Mt Smart, the fans deserve more. Eden Park is not viable in any capacity. The waterfront stadium idea was a missed opportunity and I hope it is an option down the track. A good facility creates a buzz around the city. This is about all the codes - the city should look after its teams.
How have you found the move to Auckland?
It's been a challenge moving a young family away from our families. But we absolutely love it here.
Any surprises?
Auckland gets a bad rap around league in Australia for its weather. I thought it rained a lot more. Maybe this was due to the experience as a player of going to Mt Smart on a wet, cold day and getting beaten up by some big boys.
New Zealand players are known for skill - but do they really have an edge?
I am surprised at the skills I've found. It is probably a cultural thing. You see families playing 20 v 20 touch or tag at local parks and you don't see that in Australia. They are learning skills from a very young age here and getting lots of time and practice.
What are the short- and long-term goals?
Improving the players' mental toughness is critical, which is about acknowledging how pressure affects decision making. We should be aiming for a top-four finish every year. The rules are designed to even out the competition but there are unique circumstances here which give the Warriors an advantage. If we don't make the top eight from here [this season] it will be a failure - I have to be honest about that.