Sir Graham Henry to assist Cappy.

[Rich102]

Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Graham Henry will be a familiar sight around the Vodafone Warriors over the next month providing support for the club’s NRL squad and football department.

Sir Graham, who guided the All Blacks to Rugby World Cup success in 2011, spent time at the club for the first time on Monday in a role he agreed to take up several weeks ago.

“I’ve had an association with Cappy (head coach Andrew McFadden) on a social level for quite a while now. I’ve got a lot of time for him as a coach and I also really enjoy his company,” said Sir Graham.

“We’ve had some healthy discussions about coaching previously and I’m thrilled to have the chance to be able to work with him, to observe the organisation and to provide some feedback.”

McFadden said Sir Graham’s arrival was the result of discussions he’d had with managing director Jim Doyle last year about engaging a mentor.

“I’ve always been open to the idea of having extra support to help me to develop and improve,” said McFadden.

“Jim and I have considered a number of options but it was important to take time to find the person who best fitted the position and was available to help.

“In the end we were really fortunate to be able to secure Sir Graham’s services. It’s a real privilege to have him involved and I know it’s going to be hugely beneficial not only for me personally but for the squad as a whole.”

Especially pleased about the arrangement is Vodafone Warriors ambassador and 19th man Sir Peter Leitch.

“It’s a special thrill having my good friend Sir Graham helping my favourite club,” he said.

“We talked about this the moment Jim and Cappy mentioned the idea of bringing in a mentor. To be fair, you couldn’t find a better bloke for the job.”

Sir Graham will be at Mount Smart Stadium again tomorrow.

Warriors newsletter.

 

[JJ]

A Knighthood and some revisionist history and suddenly this guy's a coaching guru?

No thanks...

 

[TheDMC]

A Knighthood and some revisionist history and suddenly this guy's a coaching guru?

No thanks...

Seriously? Henry is a proven coach and one who operated in and helped develop one of the world's most impressive team cultures.

I think he will be helping cappy and the club not on technical coaching but more the professional player environment and preparation/motivation. Great initiative I think.

 

[spear tackle]

I think if he's there to help on the team culture front its a good idea, we have missed someone of that caliber since John Heart left. Henry is not the sort of guy to take crap from any team he's coaching either so hopefully he can pass some of that around.

 

[JJ]

Seriously? Henry is a proven coach and one who operated in and helped develop one of the world's most impressive team cultures.

I think he will be helping cappy and the club not on technical coaching but more the professional player environment and preparation/motivation. Great initiative I think.

The ABs eventually won (nearly lost) a World CUp?

Ask the Welsh about the legacy of the Great Redeemer

 

[ozbash]

Club clutching at straws..

This is an admission that they have totally f**ked things up in selecting Cappy...

 

[Matua]

The ABs eventually won (nearly lost) a World CUp?

Ask the Welsh about the legacy of the Great Redeemer

Nearly lost? A win's a win. Whether by 1 point or 20 points.

As for the Welsh, he lead them out of a particularly poor period and in conjunction with Hansen laid the foundation for Wales success of the 00s.

As for the decision, all it shows is that Cappy is safe and Doyle isn't the messiah we've been led to believe he is. Crappy should be gone.

 

[JJ]

Nearly lost? A win's a win. Whether by 1 point or 20 points.

As for the Welsh, he lead them out of a particularly poor period and in conjunction with Hansen laid the foundation for Wales success of the 00s.

As for the decision, all it shows is that Cappy is safe and Doyle isn't the messiah we've been led to believe he is. Crappy should be gone.

Have to agree to disagree - Hansen is great, Henry not IMO - think you're buying the Henry PR TBH

Agree on Cappy

 

[Rich102]

When a building starts to fall over you can put up as much scaffold as you want but eventually it is going to come down!

 

[Mr Angry]

Well come on Cappy needs all the help he can get.

"They now hired a Union man"

hahahaha, I will be here when they buy a clue.

/disclaimer, Stacey did not actually say that.

 

[Iron Lion]

Having dealt with Ted before with my profession he was the only guy who had made me feel slightly nervous with his direct to the point conversational side. He does not suffer any fools. Hopefully he is here in full capacity and not through charity. If so Cappy will gain a lot of insight into the professional and disciplined word.

 

[TheDMC]

Having dealt with Ted before with my profession he was the only guy who had made me feel slightly nervous with his direct to the point conversational side. He does not suffer any fools. Hopefully he is here in full capacity and not through charity. If so Cappy will gain a lot of insight into the professional and disciplined word.

You mean he called you out on your bullshit?

 

[JJ]

Having dealt with Ted before with my profession he was the only guy who had made me feel slightly nervous with his direct to the point conversational side. He does not suffer any fools. Hopefully he is here in full capacity and not through charity. If so Cappy will gain a lot of insight into the professional and disciplined word.

Your relationship was short then?

 

[One Warrior]

You mean he called you out on your bullshit?

Lol

 

[Iron Lion]

You mean he called you out on your bullshit?

He actually did in a roundabout way, though i am quite charming in my daily sense. He refused to be called sir, its either Graham or Ted.

 

[Matua]

Have to agree to disagree - Hansen is great, Henry not IMO - think you're buying the Henry PR TBH

Agree on Cappy

Nope, I was in the UK when he took over Wales, they were in worse state than the current Warriors and he turned them into a team that could win shit - obviously the wheels fell off eventually (but that's Wales for you) as they did with Hansen.

Hansen has been going great guns with the ABs, but lets not pretend that he didn't have a cracking base to work off, a base that was built by Henry after a period where the ABs were in disarray of the field because the coach was a complete loon.

 

[Iron Lion]

Henry is a culture change specialist, he banned alcohol from the All Blacks when it was entrenched and forever changed NZ rugby for the better.

Sure its PR for the Warriors but its also good news.

 

[shiznit]

A Knighthood and some revisionist history and suddenly this guy's a coaching guru?

No thanks...

:lol:

You clearly have NFI...

 

[Iafeta]

lol - good one JJ. The only thing he was rubbish at was cricket (he made Ewen Chatfield out to be the next Don Bradman in comparison).

88 wins in 103 tests for New Zealand, including World Cup
11 successive test victories for Wales, a nation that was previously deplorably bad
4 years consecutive NPC titles with Auckland
2 consecutive Super Rugby titles - he comes back to the Blues as a defensive coordinator and they win then as well

I'd be pretty comfortable with that record, frankly.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Wow, tough crowd. We've been bemoaning the lack of professionalism in the side for a while,I can't think of too many better than Henry to help instill that. And given his record he's someone the players will take notice of. We should all be applauding this appointment. We did well when John Hart was in a senior role at the club- and I believe Henry can do the same, but better.