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RAPER MORE THAN READY FOR THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
By Rob Willis
Only those who have been hidden away in a cave, far, far away from newspapers, radio and television would be unaware that a
coaching change has taken place at the Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks.
After 2002-2003 coach Chris Anderson and the Sharks board failed to resolve their
differences, a former player for the club, a past lower grades coach and, using his words,
a born and bred Shire boy, has been given the responsibility as Sharks head coach for
the 2004 season.
Stuart Raper has been handed the opportunity in the top job and is ready, able and very
willing to give it his best shot.
I dont know if its a dream come true coaching Cronulla but its been a personal goal for
some time to be the head coach here, Raper said. Its great that now Ive got the opportunity.
Son of St George legend Johnny, born and raised a torpedo punt or two from Toyota Park,
Raper is a local through and through. No question he is excited about the challenge that
lies ahead, but his broad smile could have something to do with the fact that Raper is also
pleased to be home.
I was born at Sutherland Hospital. Ive lived here all my life apart from a few years I
spent in Newcastle when dad coached there, plus there have been the few years weve
had in England. But the rest of the time Ive lived in the Shire and I wouldnt envisage living
anywhere else in Australia.
Ive traveled and seen the world but coming back here is like coming back to paradise.
When Rapers playing career ended prematurely as a 27-year-old, he turned his attention
to coaching. First port of call was the NSW South Coast fishing town of Eden.
I was getting frustrated that the footy career wasnt going the way I wanted, he said.
I played under 18s for NSW but the career didnt go the way it couldve or shouldve.
I did my knee the week after making my first grade debut at the Sharks. But thats life
sometimes.
So Raper headed south and as captain coach in 1992 guided Eden to their first club
championship and Group 16 Grand Final victory in 15 years.
Then it was back to the Sharks where he guided a team that included David Peachey and
Dean Treister to an under 21s premiership. He served a couple of years under John Lang
as the reserve grade coach before receiving the invitation to coach in England, firstly for
Castleford, then at the club often spoken about as the richest in Rugby League, the Wigan
Warriors. In four seasons he took the Castleford Tigers from also-rans to being competitive,
while in three years at the helm coached Wigan to a Challenge Cup win in 2002.
The Presidents Cup in 1994 and 1999 at Cas (Castleford) were probably the most enjoyable
years as a coach. The Sharks 21s was a great side, Raper remembered. We lost the first
game, drew the second one, didnt even win a trial game. Then we went on to win the comp
without losing another match.
While the newly appointed Sharks coach is understandably looking forward to what 2004
will bring, he harbors a degree of sympathy for the man he will replace. Raper knows all
about the cutthroat nature of coaching in the big leagues, having only recently been relieved
of his position at Wigan.
He recognises the quality squad Anderson has put together and cant wait to put his personal
touch on the group.
Chris (Anderson) had his supporters as well as his enemies. But the thing is the player
personnel here is very strong. The base is there to go forward, Raper said. After working with
the boys for the past five weeks Im quite excited about the prospects.
But the question must be asked, just what type of coach is Stuart Raper? Can Sharks
fans expect an excitable, pacing the sidelines, John Lang-type, or maybe a coach resembling
a poker faced Wayne Bennett sitting calmly in the grand stand? Does he have a style of play
his teams can be characterised by? Where does he believe his coaching strengths lie?
Ive never been one to hide my emotions. I do get excited, he explained his game day persona.
I think passionate is probably the word. Im very passionate about what I do but obviously Ive
got to keep my head with the decision making within the game situation.
I put a lot of thought into what I do and Im very hard working. I put a lot of hours in.
Well documented has been the flat style of attack favoured by outgoing coach Anderson.
What of Rapers particular style of play?
The way I coach and the way I see the play wouldnt be categorised into any particular style.
Im big on developing individual skills. I like to work with the individual and to try to mould
your pattern to suit your individuals.
Its no use creating a style if its not natural to the player. I dont like to change a players
game. I like to try to bring out his natural ability and work on his strengths.
Im very much a skills oriented coach. Obviously strength, size and speed is a big thing.
Thats the department of your conditioner and your physio. They work hard on that.
The two things I work on very hard is preparing sides for the games but also working with
the individual to improve their game and to give them every opportunity to achieve their
potential. Skill development, awareness, confidence and all those little aspects are what
Ill try to work on with the individual and that will help the team out.
Raper inherits a team that for one reason or another, last year failed to reach their potential.
It is a squad however with a mix of experience and youth that promises bigger and better
things in 2004.
Ive watched a lot of tapes, both Premier league and first grade games. I wanted to be aware
of what all the guys could do. While Ive got an idea of what they can do, a lot of players could
be, and should be, different players to what they are.
Im excited about working with them because Ive seen what they can do.
While the regular faces on the sidelines, assistant Greg Pierce, conditioner Simon Gillies,
and the like, will make up Rapers football support staff, also lending the new coach a helping
hand away from the paddock will be his wife Kathy and two children Jake and Maddison.
Theyre great supporters, Raper said of his family. Obviously Ive taken them with me all
around the world. But I dont like to get them too involved in the footy, especially in the emotional
side of things.
And for the time being at least there are no more Rapers ready to come through the rugby
league ranks.
No I havent got any rugby league players at this stage. My daughter is a gymnast, and
Jake is a soccer player. At the moment theyre all still trying to get the British accent out of
their system.
Raper appears to be under no misapprehensions. He knows it will be a tough task but he
genuinely looks excited by what lies ahead. The local boy has landed back in the Shire and he
might just turn out to be the perfect man for the job.
By Rob Willis
Only those who have been hidden away in a cave, far, far away from newspapers, radio and television would be unaware that a
coaching change has taken place at the Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks.
After 2002-2003 coach Chris Anderson and the Sharks board failed to resolve their
differences, a former player for the club, a past lower grades coach and, using his words,
a born and bred Shire boy, has been given the responsibility as Sharks head coach for
the 2004 season.
Stuart Raper has been handed the opportunity in the top job and is ready, able and very
willing to give it his best shot.
I dont know if its a dream come true coaching Cronulla but its been a personal goal for
some time to be the head coach here, Raper said. Its great that now Ive got the opportunity.
Son of St George legend Johnny, born and raised a torpedo punt or two from Toyota Park,
Raper is a local through and through. No question he is excited about the challenge that
lies ahead, but his broad smile could have something to do with the fact that Raper is also
pleased to be home.
I was born at Sutherland Hospital. Ive lived here all my life apart from a few years I
spent in Newcastle when dad coached there, plus there have been the few years weve
had in England. But the rest of the time Ive lived in the Shire and I wouldnt envisage living
anywhere else in Australia.
Ive traveled and seen the world but coming back here is like coming back to paradise.
When Rapers playing career ended prematurely as a 27-year-old, he turned his attention
to coaching. First port of call was the NSW South Coast fishing town of Eden.
I was getting frustrated that the footy career wasnt going the way I wanted, he said.
I played under 18s for NSW but the career didnt go the way it couldve or shouldve.
I did my knee the week after making my first grade debut at the Sharks. But thats life
sometimes.
So Raper headed south and as captain coach in 1992 guided Eden to their first club
championship and Group 16 Grand Final victory in 15 years.
Then it was back to the Sharks where he guided a team that included David Peachey and
Dean Treister to an under 21s premiership. He served a couple of years under John Lang
as the reserve grade coach before receiving the invitation to coach in England, firstly for
Castleford, then at the club often spoken about as the richest in Rugby League, the Wigan
Warriors. In four seasons he took the Castleford Tigers from also-rans to being competitive,
while in three years at the helm coached Wigan to a Challenge Cup win in 2002.
The Presidents Cup in 1994 and 1999 at Cas (Castleford) were probably the most enjoyable
years as a coach. The Sharks 21s was a great side, Raper remembered. We lost the first
game, drew the second one, didnt even win a trial game. Then we went on to win the comp
without losing another match.
While the newly appointed Sharks coach is understandably looking forward to what 2004
will bring, he harbors a degree of sympathy for the man he will replace. Raper knows all
about the cutthroat nature of coaching in the big leagues, having only recently been relieved
of his position at Wigan.
He recognises the quality squad Anderson has put together and cant wait to put his personal
touch on the group.
Chris (Anderson) had his supporters as well as his enemies. But the thing is the player
personnel here is very strong. The base is there to go forward, Raper said. After working with
the boys for the past five weeks Im quite excited about the prospects.
But the question must be asked, just what type of coach is Stuart Raper? Can Sharks
fans expect an excitable, pacing the sidelines, John Lang-type, or maybe a coach resembling
a poker faced Wayne Bennett sitting calmly in the grand stand? Does he have a style of play
his teams can be characterised by? Where does he believe his coaching strengths lie?
Ive never been one to hide my emotions. I do get excited, he explained his game day persona.
I think passionate is probably the word. Im very passionate about what I do but obviously Ive
got to keep my head with the decision making within the game situation.
I put a lot of thought into what I do and Im very hard working. I put a lot of hours in.
Well documented has been the flat style of attack favoured by outgoing coach Anderson.
What of Rapers particular style of play?
The way I coach and the way I see the play wouldnt be categorised into any particular style.
Im big on developing individual skills. I like to work with the individual and to try to mould
your pattern to suit your individuals.
Its no use creating a style if its not natural to the player. I dont like to change a players
game. I like to try to bring out his natural ability and work on his strengths.
Im very much a skills oriented coach. Obviously strength, size and speed is a big thing.
Thats the department of your conditioner and your physio. They work hard on that.
The two things I work on very hard is preparing sides for the games but also working with
the individual to improve their game and to give them every opportunity to achieve their
potential. Skill development, awareness, confidence and all those little aspects are what
Ill try to work on with the individual and that will help the team out.
Raper inherits a team that for one reason or another, last year failed to reach their potential.
It is a squad however with a mix of experience and youth that promises bigger and better
things in 2004.
Ive watched a lot of tapes, both Premier league and first grade games. I wanted to be aware
of what all the guys could do. While Ive got an idea of what they can do, a lot of players could
be, and should be, different players to what they are.
Im excited about working with them because Ive seen what they can do.
While the regular faces on the sidelines, assistant Greg Pierce, conditioner Simon Gillies,
and the like, will make up Rapers football support staff, also lending the new coach a helping
hand away from the paddock will be his wife Kathy and two children Jake and Maddison.
Theyre great supporters, Raper said of his family. Obviously Ive taken them with me all
around the world. But I dont like to get them too involved in the footy, especially in the emotional
side of things.
And for the time being at least there are no more Rapers ready to come through the rugby
league ranks.
No I havent got any rugby league players at this stage. My daughter is a gymnast, and
Jake is a soccer player. At the moment theyre all still trying to get the British accent out of
their system.
Raper appears to be under no misapprehensions. He knows it will be a tough task but he
genuinely looks excited by what lies ahead. The local boy has landed back in the Shire and he
might just turn out to be the perfect man for the job.
