Incoming Rebels coach Damien Hill says the Super Rugby wooden spoon has left a bitter taste and Melbourne won’t settle for a second next season.
“I didn’t enjoy it,” he said bluntly.
“We don’t like losing.”
Hill, who will take over as Rod Macqueen moves to a coaching director role at the club, said the current players and staff were used to success.
He was satisfied with their progress in their debut season but said they need to translate that into results.
“When we got things right, we really got them right and the players and the staff collectively have a lot of faith, but it’s about us doing more of it,” Hill said.
The 41-year-old was recruited from the Sydney University club where, as head coach, he guided the Students to three Sydney premierships and he also coached with Suntory in Japan.
He was integral in luring talented young halfback Nick Phipps and rising prop Laurie Weeks to Melbourne.
Wallabies sensation James O’Connor also gave him a big vote of confidence by signing from the Western Force.
Hill said he is excited to have O’Connor in the line-up and plans to play him in the centres.
He will partner Stirling Mortlock, outside mercurial English talent Danny Cipriani, with fellow Wallabies recruit Kurtley Beale at fullback.
“James is one of the most outstanding talents in Australian rugby,” he said.
“This year in the centres, at times, we had to mix and match so he’ll bring another dimension to our play.”
Hill’s first mission is to assemble the squad for a three-match tour of the UK in August, where they will play Bath, Worcester and reigning European club champions, Leinster.
Rebels lock Adam Byrnes will be doing something a little different to the usual end-of-season footy trip.
Byrnes has been invited to the royal wedding of Prince Albert in Monaco and will even stay on for a week at the palace following the nuptials.
His partner, Australian swimmer Sophie Edington, is a long-time friend of the bride, former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.
© AAP 2012Recommend this story.
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The Crowd Says (7) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Damien Hill, Melbourne Rebels, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
June 25th 2011 @ 6:04pm
Die hard said | June 25th 2011 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
As soon as I read the words O’Connor and sensation inside the same sentance I stop reading. It is a sure sign of either immaturity or parocialism throughout the article and from that point I can’t be bothered reading on. O’Connor is a talent for sure but he’s a newbie, not a superstar. Thats for Carter or Wilko who have earned it. Not him or for example Sonny-Bill who are just headlines. After reading O’Connors up-himself website and reflecting on his performance demands/conditions for the Force I’ve gone right off the man. I wouldn’t pick him anyway except as a reserve, and if I was selecting for the ABs or Boks I wouldn’t pick him at all.
June 26th 2011 @ 12:11am
Bakkies said | June 26th 2011 @ 12:11am | Report comment
they need some real forwards especially at blindside (Saffy is too short as a lineout option and not sure about him hitting rucks effectively), a hooker that is not a total midget (won’t happen now that they have re-signed Ged Robinson), a good tight lock to replace O’Neill and a openside (can’t see Lipman sticking around and he is not young either). you can buy all the backs you won’t but if you supply them with crappy or little ball they won’t do much good.
June 27th 2011 @ 10:43am
Justin said | June 27th 2011 @ 10:43am | Report comment
They need front rowers more than anything else at this stage and some defence.
June 27th 2011 @ 10:55am
The Bush said | June 27th 2011 @ 10:55am | Report comment
They certainly need more depth at hooker. The young Kiwi guy put his heart into it all season, but will need more support next year and Frier is not the bloke to provide it.
Is Yoda leaving? Personally I don’t think they need that much in the prop department. Laurie Weeks was brillant for the Reds in 2010 and has surely suffered by playing so little this year. I didn’t see much of Rodzilla but surely more can be got out of him…
With Beale and O’Connor they now have plenty of depth in the playmaker positions (were they had a real derth this year).
Perhaps they’ll yet pick up Rocky’s signature too (although I’m unconvinced if this is a good thing).
June 27th 2011 @ 1:18pm
Bakkies said | June 27th 2011 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Somerville is retiring. Don’t blame him if he ends up going back to Christchurch for a while (well he is an ex-Crusader not sure if he is from ChCh)
The problem is they have 3 hookers already contracted. Tessman is the other one. They needed a hooker who can scrummage. James Henson is the man he should be getting more than 30 mins a game he currently is getting at the Reds.
June 27th 2011 @ 1:15pm
Bakkies said | June 27th 2011 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Nothing wrong with Rodzilla and Weekes. They just need a lot more game time. Not sure why they recruited Nic Henderson
June 27th 2011 @ 10:38am
Comrade Bear said | June 27th 2011 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Well backline is falling into place – but we all know the forwards set the platform and so I would like to see a bit more effort invested there. They are moving in the right direction though – and I’m already looking forward to watching them next year