Darren Coleman won’t blame the Waratahs’ wretched early season draw if the NSW board opts against renewing the under-the-gun coach’s contract beyond the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific championship.
Despite his side starting their campaign with an away trip to Queensland and three games in Australia against tough New Zealand outfits, Coleman agrees it’s best for the Waratahs to make a coaching call by round five, or thereabouts, rather than uncertainty lingering at the club.
“I’ve got no gripes or any issues on that front,” Coleman said on the eve of the Waratahs’ challenging round-two clash with the defending champion Crusaders in Melbourne
“If I get this team winning and we’re doing well, then I keep a job.
“If I don’t, I don’t. It’s just part of the game, unfortunately.
“If we don’t perform or we’re significantly under-performing, then 100 per cent you’ve got to question the coach because that’s my job; to get the team performing.”
In his first two years at the helm, Coleman has transformed the Waratahs from a depressingly winless outfit in 2021 – under now-Crusaders coach Rob Penney – to back-to-back quarter-finalists in 2022 and 2023.
It seems unfair his three-season tenure could be decided by results over a gruelling one-month spell.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
But Coleman gets it.
“My contract’s up (at season’s end), so there’s got to be a time frame on when they’re making that decision,” he said.
“And they’ve been really open and supportive of me. Everyone’s just really focused on trying to win. So it’s nothing for me.
“I’ve got full confidence that the board will make the right decisions for the players.
“I make decisions on players’ futures and the board make decisions on coaches’ futures. That’s how it works.”
Like the Waratahs, who opened the season with a 40-22 defeat to the Reds, the Crusaders are coming off a loss after going down 33-29 to the Chiefs last week in Hamilton.
“Historically, their form shows they get sharper towards the pointy end. So if you gave me a choice, I’d take them now,” Coleman said.
“But they didn’t look too slow last weekend. They took the Chiefs to the wire at the Chiefs.
“We’re under no illusions to the enormity of the challenge, but traditionally we’ve matched up well, and only two years ago we got that upset against them.
“So we’re going down full of energy.”
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Bring back Cheika you all know he delivers success.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
I am baffled by all this chat. I distinctly recall the articles in the local rugby media when Coleman was appointed, all about him becoming a Wallabies coach and this was a mere stepping stone. I cannot believe all those Sydney voices in that echo chamber were wrong.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Straight up responses from Coleman which is refreshing. Hopefully he can get the team improving each week despite the tough draw.
JC
Roar Rookie
Coleman’s had success with different teams so he clearly has something to offer. It’s just a big step up from Shute/MLR to SRP. The draw and injury list makes for a challenge but if the Tahs can show progress over the next few weeks and come up with a win or two and a bit of momentum, I’d extend his contract. Put it this way, why would you invest in his three years of development only to cut and run before the pay-off? Just like players, coaches take time to grow.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Absolutely. Quality of performance not just w/l
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Dead-set legend. This is the leadership Aussie rugby needs. While everyone else in rugby is making excuses left right and centre - from the chairman, to the CEOs and coaches across the spectrum - DC rocks up and shows us what authentic accountability looks like. Good luck DC - you're up against it on the field and off it, but you are absolutely the best man to lift this team.
Wig1
Roar Rookie
Tough ask for him
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Happy for Coleman to be judged on team performance over the next few rounds. But not solely on the number of W’s or L’s. If we go down in a thriller against the Saders I’d see that as a step forward on last year even as a loss
jeznez
Roar Guru
I do like Coleman, just want to see him get the team delivering. Some excellent improvement between Roma and Suncorp. I'm not expecting a win this week but do want to see continued improvement.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
A genuine response to a question...respect!
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Of course in the year of the nightmare draw we play the Crusaders again in Round 8. Hopefully they are not going to get too much sharper. On the other thread this morning some allusions were made that Cheika was set to be a replacement. That might work out OK, and will at least have a sense of strategy. Appointing Whittaker and Gilmore as temporary coaches as in winless 2021 is just publicly admitting you have no plan, and no idea. You have to love Coleman's attitude, and no doubt he will just bounce back somewhere else next year.