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A different five year plan for NRL coaches

Former Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith is off to the Super League - and not a moment too soon for the Wildcats. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Roar Guru
25th July, 2013
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The phrase ‘five year plan’ has been made rugby league famous by Phil Gould with his vision at the Panthers, and for those on twitter a famous hashtag used by Phil Rothfield in his vendetta against Gould.

While Gus’ five year plan seems to be taking shape in its early years, a different variation could be used, in particular for a coaching structure of one or two NRL clubs.

While Trent Robinson and Michael Maguire have been great acquisitions for the Roosters and Rabbitohs as untried coaches, it doesn’t always work out – as Steve Kearney and the Eels found out last year.

If sides like the Cowboys, Broncos or Dragons decide they need a change they should consider a coaching combination over five years, a coaching combination of an experienced coach for the first two years along with a current assistant coach who would take over for next three years.

While a similar plan didn’t work out down south, this is one where all parties would be willing participants.

The candidate for the experienced coach would be Brian Smith, who at Newcastle implemented a culture change throughout the club and turned them into a team who could win games without Andrew Johns.

While Brian can take a team 80% of the way, unfortunately he hasn’t been able to take the final step and win the big game at the end of the season.

This is why the short term he is a strong option and in the long term assistants such as Trent Barrett, Matt Parish, Kevin Walters and Brad Arthur are groomed to take over.

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They settle into a new club as assistant coach, learn the ropes further under one of the most experienced coaches in the game to then be most prepared when taking on a head coaching role.

It’s a different long term strategy that just might be the answer to a few NRL clubs out there, or at the very least give the hashtag #5yearplan a new home.

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