Rod Macqueen is expected to confirm he will stand down next week as Melbourne Rebels head coach. Macqueen was saying little on Monday on what his Super Rugby future held.
But he confirmed there would be an announcement on his future next week – just days after he coaches the Rebels in their final match this season against the Western Force on Friday night in Melbourne.
Insiders suggest Macqueen will move away from day-to-day coaching, but remain involved in some capacity with the Rebels.
“We’ve had a succession plan in place from day one, and it’s something we weren’t likely to discuss until the end of the season,” Macqueen said.
“This week, we really want to concentrate on the last game.
“But next week, we will be announcing exactly what’s happening.”
Assistant Damien Hill looms as the frontrunner to succeed Macqueen – especially if the succession plan the ex-Wallabies’ coach speaks about is followed to the letter.
Macqueen spent 18 months establishing the Rebels in Melbourne, building a squad, then steering them to three wins in 15 matches this season.
But despite the best performance by a Super Rugby expansion club, they will finish with the wooden spoon – having lost their past eight games.
“We’ve got a very good presence now in Melbourne. Surveys suggest we’ve done a lot of things right off the field,” Macqueen said.
“From our perspective now, we have to take what we learned this year and put it on the paddock for next year.”
“It’s been a great challenge. I came here with my eyes open and what hasn’t let me down is the Melbourne public and the way they’ve embraced rugby.”
Macqueen said defence would be a key area to work on for next season, and the club would benefit from having had a year to bed down before beginning a pre-season on similar footing to other clubs.
“We haven’t done as well on the field as we would have liked … (2012) will be a totally different year,” Macqueen said.
“We’ll be able to be a lot more normal in our approach than the other sides have been able to do.
“We had to start from scratch this year, learn our different ways of playing, our moves, our calls, our structures, get to know each other.
“All of that’s been done now.”
Dexter William
Roar Guru
That is a bit harsh JB. Cipriani was his first signing a few months before others came along. I reckon it was a strategy is saying that "we are serious" and signing Cipriani gave the Rebels a high profile to the press. A good start to the signing of players so to speak. How can he develop a local 10 with the cattle we got last season. Barnes and Giteau were our best then. Beale was not and is still not a 10, Quade was iffy and JOC wasn't even considered at 10 then. Above all, they have all been signed. Please also remember that the Rebel was formed on the precept that it does not weaken the other Australian franchise too severely by having most of their signing coming from overseas or returning Aussie. Hilgendorf was the under study, but he obviously fell short, as we have noted. Now he has signed Beale and JOC at the expense of the Tahs and Force, so you feel better now? I don't think so.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
That's precisely the point J-B. He asked us to rely upon his word, which most of us still regard as having some value, and he reneged. Had he been brutally honest with both himself and the club RM would not have the problem and ergo the Rebels management weren't 'stupid' thinking they could 'reform' him and 'pay a big price' as you said in your comment. The Rebels thought they were signing a gifted young first-fiver who would embrace the ethos the club espouses and instead they got the Cipriani about whom he himself is in denial. Hopefully lesson learned.
johnny-boy
Guest
Well he would say that wouldnt he 6:00
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
J-B, Cipriani informed his new club he was a reformed person and that the reports were all beat-ups, he wasn't exactly truthful was he. GRS, please flesh out your 'get the feeling' RM 'doesn’t really have the heart for it' observations. Most of us only see him in interviews so do you have more? Does he just need some Blackmore's Executive Stress to get the buzz back again?
johnny-boy
Guest
Agreed GRS. Macqueen made a big mistake thinking he could reform Cipriani. I was surprised and apalled MacQueen would be so stupid given his great record. He's paid a big price for not developing an Australian 1st five. His year, despite starting well has ended in a failure really. It hasnt done much for his standing in Australian rugby. Next time he should show a hit more loyalty to the country that gave him such great opporturnities. Karma is a real cow sometimes.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I appreciate the input that Macqueen has in getting the Rebels off and running, however IMO he may have been more value to the Rebels by seeing out his two years. I think they will suffer a little without him guiding them in the first instance next year and that may put them back a bit in their development. I get the distinct feeling that Macqueen doesn't really have the heart for it and is not quite as focused as he was some years ago when he coached the Wallabies. On the other hand Perhaps a younger person will be the shot in the arm for the Rebels that they need to go forward in the competition next year and the seasons thereafter. Maybe too the Cipriani's of the side might adjust to a younger person and be more settled than under the rule of an old hard head like Maqueen. Time will tell when next season rolls around. It will be interesting to see who they get to coach? The squad is rather full of very experienced rugby players, and it will be, I would think, rather a daunting task to be the mentor of these experienced players, something a younger man might find intimidating
rebel Yells
Guest
Well Done Rod.......it has been a terrific season for a debut season. Having come from Sydney and talking to many in Melbourne about the side, its been amazing how competitive the team has been, how even non rugby followers have watched with interest and how the type of rugby played has drawn enthusiastic crowds. Hopefully you are sent off with a strong performance against a very good and unlucky Western Force. The capture of Kurtley Beale for next year is the icing on the cake and the perfect man to draw players to Melb. Bring-on Friday night but more importantly, bring-on VIC rugby for stronger national depth.