Rebuilding the reputation and culture of NSW Rugby will come before the appointment of a new coach, Waratahs boss Paul Doorn says.
On Monday afternoon Doorn stood by the call to sack Penney after five consecutive losses, saying the next coach would be critical to the future of the franchise.
But to get the right person, the outside perspective of NSW Rugby had to be addressed as a priority.
“What we’re looking at with our recruitment and retention strategy is retaining the really good players we currently have,” Doorn said.
“We know we need to reach out and seek some additional staff for gaps that are clearly identified, so from our perspective, the coaching won’t be known when we make some of those decisions.
“We’ve got to create and articulate a culture that we’re trying to build around here …”
Former Wallaby Drew Mitchell was among those critical of Penney’s sacking, tweeting on Sunday night: “The coach was never the biggest issue … just a case of making a decision to make it look like something is being done.”
With an inexperienced squad that needs upgrading in almost every department, the NSW Rugby board has been criticised for using Penney as a scapegoat for poor results.
However, Doorn said everyone in the business has been held accountable.
Since coming on board at the start of the 2020 season, the Tahs have been through one of the biggest player drains in their history with Adam Ashley-Cooper, Michael Hooper, Rob Simmons, Nick Phipps, Israel Folau, Sekope Kepu, Kurtley Beale, and Bernard Foley among the stars who have left.
Decisions to cut spending in response to the pandemic and uncertainty around Australian rugby also impacted the quality of players the Tahs have been able to field.
But even after a tough year, Doorn said the club expected more from the head coach and added that Penney was given enough time to show improvement.
“Rob would admit that we knew it was an inexperienced side to start with,” he said.
“From our perspective, we gave ample opportunities to demonstrate that and it wasn’t to be.
“We’re looking at results.
“Effectively we’ve had five losses this year, three of them record losses, so what we’re looking for is continued success from the playing group but unfortunately we didn’t see that this year.
“Looking forward we want to see continued growth of our players as we move through the last three rounds of super rugby AU and into Trans Tasman.”
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
That’s it mate ...” they didn’t sack them”... 1st April and I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
gatesy
Roar Guru
WTF? A simple question from my simple mind? Q: Why would they sack the interim coaches before they have even walked out onto the training track? A: Because whichever Randwick or Uni appointee has already been annointed doesn't want them on his (or her) team.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
I see your fell for it too gatesy .. well played Roar!
gatesy
Roar Guru
Suggests to me that they already have a head coach in mind, who doesn't want Whittaker or Gilmore in his team.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Maybe Jez, but living up here and listening to the radio, Thorn gets all the accolades, not Mackay. We all know who's driving the bus!
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Yep Ken, you are right but it wasn’t 1/04 when I first comments (from Qld who are not on daylight savings!) :silly: :silly:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
But it seems we failed to check the date Tragic.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
It is madness. Time to lance the boil.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Ken, they are on their way... the two interim coaches have been sacked before they coached a game under their appointment as interim.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Feel for you Jez.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
However, Doorn said everyone in the business has been held accountable. .... yep .. everyone except the board as far as I can see. Now they have dumped the interim coaches as well ...... before they have coached a game after they had just been appointed interim coaches. Yep “accountable Ok”. Who made the decision to appoint the interim coaches? Same board who decided to sack them?
Andrew Wests
Guest
Wow read the article, almost no culpability from management. Instead we get this statement...“We know we need to reach out and seek some additional staff for gaps that are clearly identified, so from our perspective, the coaching won’t be known when we make some of those decisions. “We’ve got to create and articulate a culture that we’re trying to build around here … Apparently no-one in management needs to answer for this...we need more management, isn't that a familiar tale from Waratahs rugby. But while we are looking for more management lets cut adrift the guy that is actually improving our playing group. I thought we were in for some tough years....on the back of this I am guessing its going to be closer to at least a tough decade.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
So did the conversation a couple of years ago go like this? Rob, welcome to the ‘tahs. We are demolishing your home ground and the roster is changing a little. There should be Gordon and Newsome left in the backs and HJH, Swinton and Dempsey left in the pack. There is a red cape and a pair of shiny red undies in your locker.....
Chufortah
Guest
Let’s talk about ‘culture’... Hunt joins the Tahs and ask to join the lowest ranked club, Gordon. When I saw they let Hunt go, i was flabbergasted. They should’ve built a culture around that - character, selflessness and a willingness to do whatever is needed for the team and NSW rugby generally. (Yep Izzy joined Sydney Uni when he came over)
Ex force fan
Guest
Culture is set at the top and what the leadership do. NSW culture sucks and will continue to suck unless you change those at the top.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Realist! Weren’t you complaining the other week that the team is too white? Make your mind up man!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Realist. I’ve nominated exactly zero replacement candidates. So fill your boots. You should be very happy mate. I’ve been calling for them to get rid of a bunch of white folk! Not that their skin colour has the slightest reason for me wanting anyone in or out of the organisation.
Harry Jones
Expert
If someone says you have to ‘articulate’ a culture, you already know what kind of culture they’ve built
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
To answer the “what is culture” question. The management textbooks typically say “culture is the way we do things around here”. Note the key word “do”. It’s behavioural. It’s what people do or demonstrate. I like to emphasise that we have choices about what we do, and so culture is “the way we choose to do things around here.” We choose to call ourselves the Big Swinging D–ks”? Culture. We choose to fire whistleblowers when they report murders of civilians? Culture. Yes Penney was fixing the culture of the team. It’s clear the Waratahs on the field were choosing [that word again] to play for each other, more so with each game. But to fix the culture of how NSW rugby Board and administrators choose to operate? No show. It’s too big a job. [Edited for spelling]
jeznez
Roar Guru
Gatesy, no one was giving it to Thorn? There are still Qld fans giving it to Thorn, haven't you heard he's coach Goon and all the good play is McKay? Anyway, I digress. Completely agree the board should have backed their man, unfortunately they are the problem and there doesn't appear a way to turf them. The comments from Tah fans have been overwhelmingly supportive of Penney, if the board listened to their fans there is no way the bloke would have been sacked. Unfortunately it's the personal fiefdom of some truly appalling individuals - I want my team back!