The fascinating role of a caretaker coach

The appointment of new Newcastle coach Rick Stone has confirmed that switching coaches during the climax of a season reaps enormous on field benefits for any side, let alone a Knights unit that now sit in fifth position on the NRL ladder following a come from behind victory over the Cowboys.

Trailing 22-8 at the break, Newcastle rediscovered their early season flair to score four tries in the second half, allowing them to post a 32-26 win that now places them firmly in the running for an unlikely top four spot.

Indeed two weeks ago, a top eight birth seemed a distant reality for the Knights, considering they were on a three match losing streak, thanks largely to the distraction caused by then coach Brian Smith’s departure to the Sydney Roosters.

It took a few heavy defeats for Newcastle’s board to realise that Smith had to be released from his post as Knights coach to focus on his new four year contract with the Bondi-Junction club starting next season.

After Smith’s departure, The Knights immediately appointed Rick Stone to a care-taker role that is known for sprinkling its fair share of fairy dust on teams struggling for confidence.

The Knights needed a bucket-load themselves following heavy losses to the Sea Eagles, Roosters and the Eels which had placed their finals hopes on life support.

Two weeks into Rick Stone’s appointment as Knights coach however, and Newcastle have since revived their season, thanks to morale boosting victories over the Melbourne Storm and the Nth Qld Cowboys.

Against the Storm last week, the Knights started playing the brand of football that arguably made them the most dangerous first half side mid-way through this season.

They led 26 nil against a top four opponent, and eventually held on for a 26-14 victory.

Indeed Newcastle’s opening few moments against the Cowboys on Saturday suggested the home side was set for another dominant display.

In just the opening minute of the contest, Adam MacDougall scored the Knights first try, courtesy of the Cowboys failure to control a cross field bomb in their in-goal area.

What followed however resembled the latter stages of Brian Smith’s tenure at Newcastle, as the Cowboys scored 22 of the next 24 points to once again put the Knights in a position of bother.

New coach Rick Stone faced one of the more tougher assignments of the NRL at half-time, as he had to conjure up a plan to stop the dominance of a Cowboys side that was being led brilliantly by captain Johnathon Thurston.

But as is often the case with new coaches, Stone managed to conjure a spark that allowed Newcastle to score 26 unanswered points in the second half, bar a last minute try to Cowboys winger Michael Bani, to register one of their more character defining wins in their rich history.

Indeed new coach Rick Stone is now following in the footsteps of recent care-taker coaches such as Brad Fittler and Jason Taylor in installing an attitude and belief in sides that have had their morale stripped to the bone.

Taylor managed to revive the Parramatta Eels after Brian Smith departed, and he was also responsible for unearthing the supreme talent that is now Jarryd Hayne.

Fittler replaced Roosters coach Chris Anderson late in the 2007 season, which allowed the chooks to finish their year in an upward spiral, and cement a top four position the following season.

Although it is no formula for guaranteed success down the track, (as evidenced by the Roosters meek performances this season) it seems the immediate impact of a care-taker coach
may just be the ingredient needed to save a season from becoming a total failure.

Just ask the Newcastle Knights.