I think the point about coaching is well made & it applies across the board in British sport. />
English football under an English coach/manager is now a laughing stock. />
We now have foreigners coaching virtually all the top premiership soccer clubs. />
England RU & cricket only really prospered when they appointed Aussie coaches. />
Off the top of my head it's only in Cycling that our coaches lead the world, even there they had Aussie support. />
Why do we not produce world class coaches/managers?

I think the point about coaching is well made & it applies across the board in British sport. />
English football under an English coach/manager is now a laughing stock. />
We now have foreigners coaching virtually all the top premiership soccer clubs. />
England RU & cricket only really prospered when they appointed Aussie coaches. />
Off the top of my head it's only in Cycling that our coaches lead the world, even there they had Aussie support. />
Why do we not produce world class coaches/managers?

In terms of coaches I'd say there are two problems.



Firstly in order to develop, our L-Plate coaches need to go to Australia to learn. They need to be learning from the best, not coaches who wouldn't get a first team job in Australia in a million years. They would also see how junior development works right through to NRL coaching. British coaches seem incredibly reluctant to learn their trade - how many high profile players do we see jump onto the coaching merry go round with at best a bit of Academy or assistant work in SL?



I know McNamara isn't popular, but I have enormous respect for the fact that he's come over to Australia to better himself as a coach. Right now if I were running a club and it was a choice between BM and McNamara I'd go the latter. />


Secondly, clubs still seem to want to go for their own ex-players for some reason. Banging on about 'culture' or 'knowing the club' as though that makes up for a complete lack of technical skills. The same logic seems to make clubs want to go for name ex players rather than good coaches - bizarre given that they seem to be willing to overlook lack of a stellar career when choosing Aussie coaches (Robinson and Maguire had no great playing careers).



Thirdly, its a bit of a stereotype, but I do think we have far too many props coaching in SL. Somebody who's whole career has been about making yards and tackling people running straight at them is less likely to have as good an appreciation as a halfback or hooker. I'm not saying there won't be exceptions but when I look around the NRL I see ex halfbacks and hookers (Hasler, Barrett, Stuart, McFadden, Green, Taylor, Bellamy sort of, Flanagan, Brown) for the main. />


SL is miles behind the NRL, and is handicapped by having less money and a far smaller player pool (plus the self-imposed lack of reserve competition). But the game as a whole doesn't maximise its on-field performances by going cheap on coaching.

In terms of coaches I'd say there are two problems.



Firstly in order to develop, our L-Plate coaches need to go to Australia to learn. They need to be learning from the best, not coaches who wouldn't get a first team job in Australia in a million years. They would also see how junior development works right through to NRL coaching. British coaches seem incredibly reluctant to learn their trade - how many high profile players do we see jump onto the coaching merry go round with at best a bit of Academy or assistant work in SL?



I know McNamara isn't popular, but I have enormous respect for the fact that he's come over to Australia to better himself as a coach. Right now if I were running a club and it was a choice between BM and McNamara I'd go the latter. />


Secondly, clubs still seem to want to go for their own ex-players for some reason. Banging on about 'culture' or 'knowing the club' as though that makes up for a complete lack of technical skills. The same logic seems to make clubs want to go for name ex players rather than good coaches - bizarre given that they seem to be willing to overlook lack of a stellar career when choosing Aussie coaches (Robinson and Maguire had no great playing careers).



Thirdly, its a bit of a stereotype, but I do think we have far too many props coaching in SL. Somebody who's whole career has been about making yards and tackling people running straight at them is less likely to have as good an appreciation as a halfback or hooker. I'm not saying there won't be exceptions but when I look around the NRL I see ex halfbacks and hookers (Hasler, Barrett, Stuart, McFadden, Green, Taylor, Bellamy sort of, Flanagan, Brown) for the main. />


SL is miles behind the NRL, and is handicapped by having less money and a far smaller player pool (plus the self-imposed lack of reserve competition). But the game as a whole doesn't maximise its on-field performances by going cheap on coaching.