Daryl Gibson has resigned as head coach of the Waratahs following a disappointing season with the side.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Georgina Robinson is reporting the NSW Rugby Union will make an official announcement later today. Gibson was originally set to leave the side at the end of the 2020 season, but has brought forward his departure by a year.
Gibson took over the Waratahs head coaching role in 2016 after three seasons as an assistant under Michael Cheika. However, while he played an important role in the Tahs’ first ever Super Rugby title in 2014, he was never able to get the most out of a squad loaded with Test experience.
After winning the title and making the semi-finals in the two seasons preceding Gibson’s promotion, the Waratahs missed the finals in 2016 before the worst season in the club’s history in 2017. A semi-finals appearance followed last year, but 2019 was another disappointment, with a demoralising 49-12 loss last weekend emphatically ending their slim finals chances.
The Waratahs finished 12th on the ladder in 2019 after winning only three of their last eight games without the suspended and subsequently sacked Israel Folau.
Gibson will leave the club after a season of lost opportunities and one sadly marred by a series of off-field controversies, chiefly Folau’s bitter fight with Rugby Australia.
After snapping the mighty Crusaders’ record 19-match winning streak in March, the Waratahs’ campaign hit the skids.
Folau became Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer with his 60th five-pointer in a narrow round-eight loss to the Blues in Auckland in April.
But that was the last game the dual international played after having his multi-million-dollar four-year contract torn up for his controversial social media posts.
Unable to replace his attacking prowess, the Waratahs struggled to find tries during the second half of the season, slumping from first in the Australian conference to third behind the Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels by season’s end.
To great frustration to Gibson and the team, the Tahs lost six games by eight points or less and three by three points or less.
In addition to the Folau firestorm, Gibson and the Waratahs had to contend with hooker Tolu Latu’s drink-driving drama.
Having just completed a six-match suspension, Latu was found asleep at the wheel of a moving car last month before registering a 0.135 blood alcohol reading.
Fined $1300 and suspended from driving for three months after pleading guilty to mid-range drink-driving, Latu this week was hit with a $5000 breach notice by Rugby Australia and banned for four matches.
Gibson leaves the Waratahs with just 28 victories from 64 matches, but has been linked to the vacant Wallabies attack coach role.
Replacing the former All Black has been made difficult by the recent departure of assistant coach Simon Cron. Cron, who has helped the Waratahs noticeably improve their set-piece work since joining as forwards coach in 2018 and was seen as the most obvious candidate to succeed Gibson in 2021, is heading to Japan to coach Toyota Verbitz.
With AAP.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Yeah I reckon he could ..... he did ok relating to a bunch of old, young journeymen and home grown talent at the Moondoggies ..... it is all moot though, he has signed with the Highlanders.
Prof_Kaos
Roar Rookie
The wheels fell of Aussie rugby with the long term strategic planning failure of John O'Neil. Nobody has fixed that so it isn't any surprise the component parts are also not working properly. There have also been a string of players who took advantage of this considering themselves bigger than the game from James O'Connor to Folau. Just think of how screwed AR will be if Folau's wins and along with an operation loosing $8million per yr add Folau's $millions and the lawyers $millions there will be no money left for anybody actually playing rugby. Sad.
Danny
Roar Pro
Good call taylorman. Top coach. Maybe he could bring Hayden with him :-) NSW public might be a bit sick of kiwis right now though!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
mbp: lucky you can spell the god fairies would have caused another twitter storm!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Good call Lindsay. I second this pick. Will bring in a league defence coach and Phil will up the backs performance. The tahs need a tough no-nonsense forwards coach who can assist Blake bring in quality and capable tight 5 and a number 7!!!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Bloody hope not Brett. Can you imagine the political havoc he could cause the new coach?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
terry good idea but could he relate to a bunch of talented youngsters?
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Very true TWAS, I remember that and supported you here. With all these young players coming through we need a coach who can relate to them don't think a White or someone similar will do the job. Have no concrete ideas and assumed Cron would take over at some point.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Now that is a possibility Brett. Would have to move house either!
buster
Guest
Nucifora? Get him back from Ireland.
mbp
Guest
izzy for coach. nsw will be renamed the nsw godfairers. choc full of aussies with pacific islander heritage and izzy flair and excitement... the nsw godfairers will rise to challenge the mighty crusaders. bring back izzy. i dont agree with his opinion on "sinners" going to hell, nor the way he phrased it... but the guy has conviction and courage to express his opinions as he is entitled to by australian law.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
OK. I sort of thought that it might been taken, but I didn't even know there was a junior Kangaroos. I guesss Wallababies doesn't quite do it, does it?
Little Havanna
Roar Rookie
The coaching cupboard is bare....so think well outside the square and beg Craig Bellamy from Melbourne Storm to take them on!
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Devil dodger, or devil's pawn? You just can't trust those code switchers, trying to destroy the game they play in heaven. Satan is alive and well and playing rugby league!
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Head coach attack coach
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
My heartfelt wish.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Did alright last time he was Cheika's attack coach....
Peter Kelly
Guest
I've heard a guy by the name of Michael Cheika is available next year.
Val Saunders
Guest
Let's not just pull out old names like Cheika for this role. Given how poor the Tahs have been why not think out of the box. Two names come to mind - one already mentioned Steve Tandy and the other from across the ditch in Ronan O'Gara. One comes with knowledge already of the Tahs and the other, well if the Crusaders thinks he's OK then he should be good enough for the Tahs. Maybe the two could even make up an exciting new coaching team!!!
deadwood
Roar Rookie
Make Hooper Captain/Coach. He's not worth his contract amount just for playing and he's a rubbish captain, so give him some other jobs to get some value out of him.