What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Soward Joins coaching team as kicking coach

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
How Anthony Griffin secured Jamie Soward as St George Illawarra’s kicking coach
Jamie Soward had a falling out with Anthony Griffin at Penrith in 2016 but weekly chats on 2GB about footy tactics helped the pair mend their relationship, opening the door to reunite at the Dragons.

Matt Logue
NCA NewsWire
October 8, 20206:07pm
6d47137855fee6ac5a4bc804186fcfca

Jamie Soward will return to St George Illawarra in 2021 as the club’s kicking coach. icture: News Corp.Source:News Limited

Jamie Soward has revealed how conversations with Anthony Griffin about tactics while the pair worked together at 2BG radio proved the catalyst for Griffin to hire him as St George Illawarra’s kicking coach for 2021.

Soward will reunite with his former Penrith coach in a consultancy role, working with the club’s halves and rising players on game management.

The 2010 premiership-winning Dragons playmaker will focus on kicking, both in general play and conversations.

Soward’s relationship with Griffin has improved since 2016 when they fell out at Penrith after the veteran coach didn’t re-sign him in his final season.

The pair have since mended bridges while working together in the media, especially during their time at 2GB.

“Talking to Hook about each game for half an hour on a Saturday night – that was probably the catalyst for this job,” Soward said.

“We’d sit down and talk about players, styles, what goes into games.

“I’d pick his brain on certain players in the NRL and how you would approach that and he would ask about some of the players that I’ve seen coming through the Canterbury Cup while working for Channel 9.

“I guess it has been a long conversation in the making and I’m happy Anthony has got the Dragons job, and now the hard work starts.”

d8895d12cf17e1bb751f2e37ba5d89ce

Jamie Soward will reunite with former Penrith coach Anthony Griffin at St George Illawarra after Griffin hired Soward as the club’s kicking coach. Picture: Tim Hunter.Source:News Corp Australia

Griffin feels Soward’s proven record as a game manager can help ignite the Dragons’ current halves pairing, Ben Hunt and Corey Norman.

Hunt and Norman have struggled to produce their best and a specialist coach could help them improve.

Soward played 140 NRL games for the Dragons between 2007 and 2013 while he remains the club‘s leading pointscorer with 977 points from 39 tries, 398 goals and 25 field goals.

The retired halfback has added to his skills post-football with various roles in the media, including an analyst at NRL.com alongside fellow Dragons assistant and ex-Penrith coach Matt Elliott.

Soward is looking forward to working with Norman and Hunt on the finer skills in their game.

“Part of my job will be to understand how Corey sees the game at five-eighth,” he said.

“His running game is certainly his strength and he is very talented as well.

“Hopefully Matty Elliott’s game plan around getting Corey involved can get the best out of him.

“Ben is also such a great runner of the footy and we are going to need that if we are going to get back into the top eight.

“I’ll play a small part. This is Hook’s team and Matty Elliott’s attack, so for me if I can listen to those two guys and learn what they know about the game, then put some stuff on with my kicking and weaknesses in other teams.

“One thing I know about Hook is that he is going to have everyone super fit and competing and that is going to be the important thing.”

Soward plans to juggle his Dragons consultancy role with his media commitments at 2GB, NRL.com and Channel 9.

“I won’t change anything that I do in the media,” he said.

“One thing I’ve really enjoyed is being able to just watch the game and look at how teams play.

“The small part that I’ll play at the Dragons won’t affect me. If there are games that don’t go the right way, then I have to call it how I see it.”


https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/d...h/news-story/bd3aead1d1786fdd7892b74908ab604e
 

blacksafake

First Grade
Messages
8,988
Hopefully the biggest gain out of this is Capt Cam can develop a potent kicking game and return to the 9 jumper where he belongs and go well past the false ceiling created for him by Mc Fookknuckle.

The young guys vying to start in the halves will also learn that a big high kick isn't the only way on the 5th and that low and well placed kicks into the corner will sap the energy out of the opposition.

Hook having a quality assistant / consultant like Sowie will allow him to concentrate on that important job of signing some quality forwards and putting the necessary steel and skill set into those we already have.

A very good decision to bring Sowie in IMHO.
Agree OT re McInnes.
I have been waiting for him to go to the next level by developing a kicking game. More running out of dummy half wouldn’t go astray as well.
 

redandwhite4evr

Juniors
Messages
1,816
Great to hear.. Young enough to be able to understand the current generation of players but old enough not to have also been playing with any of them (I think..)

Should also put to bed that whole avenue that Hook is a bad coach because “Soward said so when he left Penrith”

Good to see you've had a rethink Muz- this is not what you said when I suggested Soward as a left field possibility for assistant coach to Hook- you stated then that he didn't have the man management skills.
 

SaintPauli

Juniors
Messages
1,179
Sowie, club legend and knowledgeable of the game. Awesome to see him back where he was unjustfyably sacked. Says a lot about his integrity and love for the red v.
The young guys in particular will learn from and respect Sowie. Top move.


Surround the team with experieence and knowledge.

Griffin tick
Elliot tick
Sowie tick
 
Last edited:

muzby

Village Idiot
Staff member
Messages
45,708
Good to see you've had a rethink Muz- this is not what you said when I suggested Soward as a left field possibility for assistant coach to Hook- you stated then that he didn't have the man management skills.
As a specialist I think he’s the right fit.

Still think he’d struggle as a full time assistant.
 

Slippery Morris

First Grade
Messages
7,395
Soward's kicking game was second to none but he also had another great skill and that was his support play. Whenever there was a line break he would always sniff around and be there for a breakaway try.

Cooper has hinted many times to help out the backs. Hopefully this coach takes on his offer. He was the best defensive centre. Had many good battles with Justin Hodges and mostly won them. Hodges was Qld's best at the time.
 

Phantom V

Juniors
Messages
381
Tremendous news , tremendous appointment for the team itself . He is the ideal individual to mentor our younger Dragons in the skills of not only goal kicking , but also on general field placement of kicks .

That in itself will take a great load of our forward pack , giving them some respite from the
grinding meter by meter approach of the Mary era .

P.S. if you still have your old head gear , loan it to young Sullivan as I believe that many opposition teams will have a target on him .
 

blue bags

First Grade
Messages
7,706
Soward's kicking game was second to none but he also had another great skill and that was his support play. Whenever there was a line break he would always sniff around and be there for a breakaway try.

Cooper has hinted many times to help out the backs. Hopefully this coach takes on his offer. He was the best defensive centre. Had many good battles with Justin Hodges and mostly won them. Hodges was Qld's best at the time.
fantastic passing play, that Soward's game, he will coach that and the general kicking, goal kicking
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
The conditioning bloke he had at the Riff is the one you want.

https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2016/11/11/behind-the-scenes-the-staff/

Do you mean Tony Guilfoyle Athletic Performance Manager or NRL Strength and Conditioning Coach Lee Hopkins & Elliot Jackson ?

Tony Guilfoyle will join the Dragons as physical performance manager having previously filled similar roles at the Panthers and Broncos.We also have Elliot Jackson and Cody Parsons strength and conditioning

Guilfoyle and Jackson both worked with Griffin during his time @ Penrith.


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/09/28/dragons-finalise-2021-football-department/
 

FlameThrower

Bench
Messages
3,557
Would be nice to see an actual signature of a player. Starting to get a bit anxious that we’ve lost so many and have not had anyone at all signed up...
I don’t think we can just rely on juniors and some of the current squad to be really competitive next year...
 
Last edited:

possm

Coach
Messages
15,587
Would be nice to see an actual signature of a player. Starting to get a bit anxious that’s we’ve lost so many and have not had anyone at all signed up...
I don’t think we can just rely on juniors and some of the current squad to be really competitive next year...
Maybe all of Griffin's signings are currently playing in the finals.
 

Latest posts

Top