Jason Caskey. Photo / Bevan Conley
It can be described as the most pleasant phone call Dale Cobb and Jason Caskey have shared in 12 months.
The Wanganui Rugby Union chief executive confirmed yesterday that Caskey has been reappointed as coach of the Steelform Wanganui team for next season, replacing Karl Hoskin.
"It was so pleasing to me, because I was the one that had to deliver the news last year," Cobb said about ringing Caskey.
Caskey returns to the role where he won the 2011 Pink Batts Heartland Meads Cup while finishing second in 2012, after the pulsating second half comeback by East Coast in Ruatoria.
Any bitter feelings from the fallout last December when the union board opted to replace him with Hoskin have been put aside as Cobb stated it was Caskey himself who put his hand up again.
Cobb, a Caskey supporter, said that recommendation was taken to the union board and the vote was unanimous to bring him back.
"A credit to him, Jason approached us advising he had unfinished business, and that along with his personal motivation to represent Wanganui again.
"It takes a real person to do that, certainly under those circumstances. He was a gentleman about that."
Cobb said the recall would be "going some way" to restoring the faith of the Wanganui rugby community after the decisions made at the end of 2012 were followed by the unsuccessful 2013 season.
Still, it had come up during the heavy discussions in the boardroom about the core players of the Wanganui team beginning to age, which had been Hoskin's "valid argument" for developing the future.
Wanganui rugby had to work on a "five year succession plan" to shore up the growing gaps, Cobb said.
"This year we opened the floodgates for the local club competition [players] but maybe we weren't as good as we think we are," Cobb said. "If anyone can bring us back, I think Jason has those qualities.
"The role basically starts from today."
Working on his roof when the Wanganui Chronicle rang, Caskey said that after everything he had been through as a former player and coach for Wanganui, he still coveted the position more than any feelings of resentment.
"At the time, I've got no problems admitting, I was bitterly disappointed. You don't like to leave on those sorts of terms. I said earlier during the season, 'look, if it doesn't work out with what you're doing, I'd like to have another go'."
Caskey received support from friends and people in Wanganui rugby and said he wanted to thank them all it no doubt helped his decision after he left the sport to work on his house.
"I've got two boys that will start rugby and I didn't want my two sons to be anti-Wanganui because of a decision that was made."
Caskey is now confirming who will be his coaching team next year, having spoken to his former deputy Jason Hamlin and head coach Guy Lennox. They still have to sort out the roles because many people had already made other commitments in 2014, he said.
"I've been talking to people I know and trust and people I know I can work with."
It will be a unique challenge unlike any that has faced a Wanganui coach in eight seasons - not maintaining a top two placing but instead climbing back from down the pecking order.
"I've got no doubt it can be put back together. It may not be instant, it may be a bit of an ask," said Caskey. "People expect, because Wanganui does so well, [they] just presume Wanganui is far superior and it's just going to happen.
"I can vouch for it, back to Guy and Milton Haig, there's a whole lot of work involved in it."
Caskey said his focus was identifying positions where the team were not strong - at which point he will either look at bringing in "upskilled players" or "manufacturing" them by asking key individuals to switch roles at club level from the start of the season to develop themselves.
"We've definitely already started planning that. Next thing is talking to the club coaches and building from there."
He becomes the sixth selector to be recalled to the Wanganui senior representative rugby side since 1951.