The NSW Waratahs have lauded meticulous coach Michael Cheika for transforming the Super Rugby under-achievers into minor premiers and title favourites.
Three years ago, the desperate Waratahs held an infamous fan forum asking diehards how the club could win back the public as support levels hit rock bottom.
Now Cheika has the Waratahs playing a vibrant brand of ball-in-hand rugby that is set to deliver long-suffering fans a first-ever Super crown.
From day one after being appointed last year, Cheika has made no secret of his priority to reconnect with disillusioned fans and build a winning, family culture.
The former Randwick and European-Cup winning coach spent 2013 overhauling the Waratahs’ attack.
The rewards have followed, with the Waratahs boasting the best attacking record in the competition this year and claiming seven tryscoring bonus points.
The Waratahs also now have the competition’s best defence and defence coach Nathan Grey credits Cheika for it all coming together.
“He’s a guy who knows what he wants to achieve and goes about putting in a really good plan about achieving that and then maintaining the course in doing that and not wavering from it,” Grey said.
“That’s very easily said but very difficult to do.
“He’s someone who is very driven and very inspiring.”
Cheika has won over the players with his old-school approach.
“He’s been awesome,” said lock Kane Douglas.
“He wants his forwards to be physical; get your head in there, get stuck in, get dirty and let the backs do the work out wide.
“It’s a pretty basic sort of set-up for us forwards. He’s been awesome.
“He certainly gets up you if you’re not training hard and he doesn’t mind giving you a little spray if you need to work harder.
“He wants to stand for what he says, so he doesn’t want you to say you’re going to do something and not deliver.”
Hard-nosed and uncompromising, Cheika’s team-first approach has also earned the players’ respect – and landed the coach in hot water with officials.
Cheika smashed a door in the visiting team’s coaches’ box during NSW’s round-three loss to the Brumbies and was then fined and earned a six-month suspended ban for abusing a cameraman in Durban.
“Just his passion for the game and for life is something that I’ve taken a lot from,” said backline utility Rob Horne.
“And it’s been really good for rugby in general to have someone with that charisma to come into the game and to really express his love for rugby and his team.
“He’s gotten in a bit of strife throughout the year. It’s been pretty entertaining … but that just shows his passion that he has for us as a group and what we want to do.
“It can’t be said enough how important that’s been for us.”
Firstxv
Guest
Chiefs are coming right with Cruden's AB improvements. Large reason for their drop off was because he was out for several games. Showed last week hes firing again and that will make a difference. The Chiefs and Saders are our best hopes by miles.
Weary tah
Guest
Cheika is the best thing ever to happen to the Tahs .... Period. It's a real shame that the outstanding product he has created has meatheads in the front office promoting it. Hopefully new owner may bring some much needed professionalism to the organisation
Buzzard
Guest
Saders are favorite at $4.00, Tahs at $4.80, Sharks at $5.50. The bloody odds have changed since earlier thus morning.The Chiefs are still a threat going by the bookies??? Used my winnings from my multi, Maroons 13+, Germany by 2+ goals, Force 12-, Chiefs 12- & Saders 12- last week. Might be throwing money down the look but its cost me $10 so far, if the Saders win $2000 in the kitty ready for Rugby Championship, NRL/AFL finals and possibly Spring carnival.
Fair go
Guest
The key words are about continuity of purpose. Plan the path and stay with it. With passion. The only surprise is that the lunatic politics of nsw rugby did not kill him first.
jameswm
Guest
Why are the Tahs bothering turning up then? Geez you've missed the point...
Mr Rugby
Guest
If only Harold Mitchell had listened Cheika could be leading the Rebels into a Super XV final and not lost $10m by now!
Firstxv
Guest
yes they are but all this hype combined with a lack of experience in one off matches is a dangerous cocktail. You speak of what they can do, what they've been doing but not of what they have in reserve when the opposition stop them doing when they were playing for 'table position'...'points'. None of those matches were kitchen sink and all matches. This is a completely different ball game and a side like the Saders or Chiefs know more about win or go home matches. The tahs wont be allowed to run in beautifully crafted tries- the defences will be too good, the pressure too much, and how many of this tahs side has faced there is no tomorrow matches? none? Come up against the Chiefs or Saders and theyll be facing many who have been through it. That will have the effect of many of them feeling vulnerable for perhaps the first time this year. Tahs fans I think are reading this wrong. Instead of having an air of expectation, they need to be applying caution. What will the tahs do when plan A aint working?when theres 20 minutes left and theyre 10 points down? what then? no...we havnt thought about that one... icing on the cake...geeez...
Firstxv
Guest
yes I'd like to know that as well...
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Would have been better putting it in a fund to find a new coach for the Saders Buzzard or you holding out for Deans to return someday.
Squirrel
Guest
Definetly be crusaders or tahs that win it.
niwdEyaJ
Roar Guru
Ballsy.... what odds did you get?
messa
Guest
way to throw your money down the toilet!
Buzzard
Guest
I just put $500 on the Crusaders to win the title.
niwdeyaj
Guest
Reds are a shadow of their former selves, particularly without Genia and Cooper and Horwill out of form almost all season... Crusaders on the other hand have more titles than all the Aussie sides combined (even if the Tah's win this one) so I'm sure they'll be ready for a finals showdown with the Tah's... Very unlikely they'll get "smoked"...
jameswm
Roar Guru
And playing sensational footy - moving the ball, physical, aggressive defence. It's great to watch, to be honest. Thinking about it again, I think there are two keys: 1. the work they do off the ball in attack and defence. They have peope in motion, so support for any half break, and guys to hold up the dfence and keep it guessing. In defence, they get into position and move up fast, over and over. 2. their strength in contact. They are getting offloads because Palu, Potgieter, Skelton, Kepu and co can take the initial hit and get their arms free. And they are monstering guys in defence just enough to make a difference - Douglas, Skelton, Palu and even Hooper. Folau's fantastic, but he's the icing on the cake.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
I agree with PeterK although I wouldn't get too caught up in where they finished on the table. 2012 was 4 wins, 2013 was 8 wins, 2014 is currently 11 and probably 12 wins. The main point is that the Waratahs are again a team to be reckoned with, genuine contenders instead of also rans.
pick & go..!!
Guest
Reds will get smoked, as will the crusaders if they make finals footy.
PeterK
Guest
not really they finished 9th last year so even if they do not win the title it has been a great improvement for them. They had very few gains on their roster from last year so it has been mainly Cheika that has made the difference.
Buzzard
Guest
So they have made it to the playoffs. Whip Dee doo. They talk the hype surrounding the Tahs they now have no choice but win it. A bit embarrassing if they don't because all the carry on a talk of late is if they have already won the title. Go Reds, Go Crusaders!!!
Bones506
Roar Guru
Cheika has been talked about for a long time as the guy to fix NSW rugby and the proof is now there. Hats off to him