Thursday 30 June 2016 10:37, UK
Huddersfield are interviewing. Hull KR have something up their sleeve for 2017. We will see new coaches in Super League soon.
But who will they be and will they be 'new' to the competition? Might one of them be a man that even Super League's most ardent fans would not recognise?
"He can be better than Madge and Robbo," read the text message I received in reply to my question. I had asked Matthew Johns who he thought was the best coach in Australia that would be a realistic chance of trying life in the Super League.
To get a reply saying his recommendation could surpass the magnificent achievements of Michael Maguire and Trent Robinson had me excited but cautious at the same time. They are big boots to step into. Those two men left as positive a mark on Super League as any overseas coach ever has then went back to the NRL and won premierships.
So who is this coach he rated so highly? And could I get further evidence of this coach's ability and potential?
Internet searches threw up glowing testimonials.
"Still to this day, I tell people that he's one of the best coaches I've ever had. For me personally, he's a coach that you want to play for." Boyd Cordner 2014.
"I think he's definitely up to it ... he's definitely a first-grade coach in waiting." Ivan Cleary 2014.
But I needed to find out a little more about this former police officer turned coach.
Pathway
First port of call was players that had him as their mentor at Newcastle Knights. This coach had played in the lower grades at Newcastle before turning to coaching, and he worked his way up through the various levels.
Few will have a better understanding of the importance of and mechanics of a successful player pathway to the elite level. The players loved him. They felt he had their backs and would do anything he could to make them better. Even the hard to please were fulsome in their praise.
Testimonials came from players whose opinions I value. Matthew Johns was onto something. But let's go a step further. Let's get the opinion of a man who has been this coach's boss for the last five years.
A man widely regarded as one of rugby league's greatest thinkers and most respected former coaches, Phil Gould.
I've met Phil once, on the sideline of the 2006 Test match in Sydney between Great Britain and Australia. I had just limped off the field with yet another hamstring injury and was despondent in my seat. I was trying to focus on the match with all these thoughts swirling in my head.
A figure approached from my right. I turned and was facing Phil. "Is your hamstring gone mate?" he asked. "Yeah," I replied with all the enthusiasm of a stone.
"Hey," he said in a manner that forced eye contact. "You know you WILL be back."
I felt better about myself immediately. Not just because of what was said but more importantly who said it. That's the influence of the man.
That was a decade ago but that influence has not waned. I have at times over the last 10 years asked for his help by text. In preparing to cover games for Sky Sports like the State of Origin or international rugby league he would be an invaluable source.
"How would you play the Aussies in Saturday's final, Phil?" ahead of the 2009 Four Nations decider. He replied back instantly with three long text messages that opened my eyes to what would be done and what should be done.
"Will Player X make an impression in Super League, Phil?" Again an immediate and prescient response. Each to their own but I don't rate the opinion of many higher than Phil Gould. So he would be my next port of call about Matty's suggested coach.
Highly recommended
As I have mentioned, Phil has employed and importantly promoted this man for the last five years. Does he feel now is the time for this coach to come to Super League and make the step to head coach in a new environment?
I sent a text. The answer was swift and emphatic. With his blessing I have included his full text below:
"Outstanding coaching prospect. He has won an NYC Premiership and NSW Cup Premiership. He is the coach responsible for developing the likes of Bryce Cartwright, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Regan Campbell-Gillard, James Roberts, Isaah Yeo, Waqa Blake; all of whom are now established NRL players at very young ages. I can't recommend him highly enough. "
There you have it. Make what you want from that and the opinion of Matty Johns, Boyd Cordner, Ivan Cleary and others but there seems to be brilliant coaching prospect out there that you may never have heard of.
His name is Garth Brennan. His credentials, impeccable.
