What makes a good rugby league coach?

[Uplifting]

I've often thought about why some coaches are very good and some aren't. Is it their analytical skill, personality, or, their experience as a player?

I thought it might be interesting to discuss. Here's some info to start.

Which position the current NRL coaches played

Specialist half
Des Hasler
Paul Green
Ricky Stuart
Jason Taylor
Trent Barrett

Hooker
Shane Flanagan
Anthony Griffin
Nathan Brown

Front or back row
Trent Robinson
Stephen Kearney
Brad Arthur

Backs
Wayne Bennet
Michael Maguire
Paul McGregor

All rounder
Craig Bellamy (Centre, Five-eighth, Lock)
Des Hasler (Halfback, Lock, Hooker)

Position unknown
Neil Henry

 

[Coffs dragon]

Past position is really irrelevant as it ones down to the ability to communicate and motivate a bunch of individuals into a team. Bath, Bennett, Gibson, Bellamy had that ability in spades.

 

[duck]

Roy Masters (school teacher)

 

[rasaint]

Good players make good coaches. Easy.

 

[Walpole]

Good players make good coaches. Easy.

Hmm, hang on a minute. Paul McGregor was a better player than Craig Bellamy...

 

[BennyV]

Lol @ "good players make good coaches". The number of examples to show that to be untrue boggles the mind.

One does not have to have played the game continuously at a high level to be a successful coach. IMO there's a few ingredients needed (similar to those ingredients at many managerial positions in all industries):

1 - Man Management. Has to be able to motivate a group of highly-paid elite sportsmen to give all their effort to training and performing. No easy task, especially long term.

2 - Strategic analysis. Has to be able to view the skillset of his (or her!) team and the structures, strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and come up with a strategy to win. That strategy could be the same week to week (a la Dragons of 2010) or it could change depending on the opposition (often seen from the likes of the Tigpies or even Cowboys). If you have gaps in your roster, you need to fill them.

3. Ability to implement. This means you need to be familiar with best-practice training methods, and know how your players react; for some coaches, the best method of implementing their strategy is to absolutely drill it into them. For others, it's best to practice adapting to a certain players instincts (example, I'm sure the Cowboys would be trained to adapt to certain called from JT when he sees something. No single player can consistently create magic unless those around him know what he is going to do).

4. Most importantly, willinging to learn and ability to adapt. Number 1-3 can be learned throughout a coaching career, and it's why you see some coaches start slow and learn the trade. However, if a coach is stubborn and not willing to take on lessons, they are doomed to fail.

 

[Coffs dragon]

5. The ability to shoulder blame and not deflect!!!!!

 

[watatank]

It's not really about the position played it's more about the qualities you have.

I'd imagine that this would including but not be limited to the following buzzwords

* Leadership
* Ability to teach
* Management skills
* Knowledge of the game
* Rapport
* Communication

 

[Dragon Revival]

Norm Provan and Changa were pretty good coaches.

 

[Dragon Revival]

Provan had a success rate of 68% across three clubs and Changa had a success rate of 59% in the five years that he coached the Dragons from 1972 until 1976. Both of them could attack and defend well and were
inspirational. I am sure
that the coaching could seek their considerable input if they wished to improve the results.

 

[JDHD]

Nothing is more important than learning from your mistakes.

After that, man management and ability to delegate to people who are more skilled in certain areas than you are a close tie for second.

 

[Uplifting]

Roy Masters (school teacher)

And Neil Henry or Brad Arthur don't seem to have had any FG experience either.

 

[dino2170]

NOT MARY

 

[Uplifting]

Just looking at that playing experience info, the two coaches that have played in the biggest range of positions and for a long time are Bellamy and Hasler.

That's a coincidence because Melbourne and Manly were the most consistent teams for atleast a decade (played heaps of GF). That seems to be changing a little now though...

 

[Dragonslayer]

Lol @ "good players make good coaches". The number of examples to show that to be untrue boggles the mind.

One does not have to have played the game continuously at a high level to be a successful coach. IMO there's a few ingredients needed (similar to those ingredients at many managerial positions in all industries):

1 - Man Management. Has to be able to motivate a group of highly-paid elite sportsmen to give all their effort to training and performing. No easy task, especially long term.

2 - Strategic analysis. Has to be able to view the skillset of his (or her!) team and the structures, strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and come up with a strategy to win. That strategy could be the same week to week (a la Dragons of 2010) or it could change depending on the opposition (often seen from the likes of the Tigpies or even Cowboys). If you have gaps in your roster, you need to fill them.

3. Ability to implement. This means you need to be familiar with best-practice training methods, and know how your players react; for some coaches, the best method of implementing their strategy is to absolutely drill it into them. For others, it's best to practice adapting to a certain players instincts (example, I'm sure the Cowboys would be trained to adapt to certain called from JT when he sees something. No single player can consistently create magic unless those around him know what he is going to do).

4. Most importantly, willinging to learn and ability to adapt. Number 1-3 can be learned throughout a coaching career, and it's why you see some coaches start slow and learn the trade. However, if a coach is stubborn and not willing to take on lessons, they are doomed to fail.

I would also add,
5. being able to implement plan B, C etc when the situation arises. McGregor seems to be a "dear in the headlights" when his plan A goes array.
6. game management: seeing the game in front of you and able to make decisions based on what's happening now. A good army general can oversee the battle and make strategic changes that can influence the outcome, not just continue on the same path until all is lost. Napoleon (for all his evil intentions) was a master tactician and won many battles by making adjustments as the fighting progressed. A good coach can also do this, sees what's happening and makes adjustments to counter or change the game.

 

[BennyV]

I would also add,
5. being able to implement plan B, C etc when the situation arises. McGregor seems to be a "dear in the headlights" when his plan A goes array.
6. game management: seeing the game in front of you and able to make decisions based on what's happening now. A good army general can oversee the battle and make strategic changes that can influence the outcome, not just continue on the same path until all is lost. Napoleon (for all his evil intentions) was a master tactician and won many battles by making adjustments as the fighting progressed. A good coach can also do this, sees what's happening and makes adjustments to counter or change the game.

I'd say that 5 is covered by 4 (ability to learn and adapt) and 6 is covered by 2 (strategic analysis).

 

[blacksafake]

When someone finds out can they let L plate (if he's willing to listen) know.

On second thoughts don't worry i'd rather a new coach.

 

[Gareth67]

Also , being able to inject confidence into the team . That regardless of whom the opposition may be , how many star players they may have , that your players are more than capable of beating them .

Being able to tell a few white lies , such as Wayne Bennett , after telling his mob that the Dragons didn't really rate them in the 92 Grand Final . Or our favourite school teacher Roy Masters and his ' fibro and silver tails ' psychology .

Essentially , having the ability of getting into the players heads and have them believing in themselves . Find a coach with those attributes and you will have a team that will be near the top of the competition ladder for many years .

 

[Dragsters]

Being able to inject confidence into the team . That regardless of whom the opposition may be , how many star players they may have , that your players are more than capable of beating them .

Being able to tell a few white lies , such as Wayne Bennett , after telling his mob that the Dragons didn't really rate them in the 92 Grand Final . Or our favourite school teacher Roy Masters and his ' fibro and silver tails ' psychology .

Essentially , having the ability of getting into the players heads and have them believing in themselves . Find a coach with those attributes and you will have a team that will be near the top of the competition ladder for many years .

Quite possibly even the most important skill of all, but not much use on its own in the long run.

Even Mary had them believing their defence was impregnable for a stretch in 2015!

Then the players figured out there was little else in his skill set and the rest is history.

 

[Ben_Kusto_magic]

>55% success rate