TWO-time premiership-winning coach Chris Anderson used to say, “Don’t judge a rookie coach until you see how he handles the pressure of losing three in a row.”
Pressure, and the ability to handle it, is what makes or breaks NRL coaches. I’ve seen very talented coaches take on a complete personality transformation once a losing streak kicks in.
Their game plans lose all sense of adventure. The match plan becomes, “Don’t drop the ball.”
Brad Arthur has been hailed as the force behind Parramatta and Jarryd Hayne’s rise. Source: News Corp Australia
Heading into Round 20 against the Gold Coast Titans, Eels coach Brad Arthur found himself coaching a team who had lost four of their last five outings, a team on the slide, who the previous year had collected the wooden spoon and had become accustomed to losing football games.
Here’s how Brad Arthur reacted. He turned up to Tuesday training with a big smile on his face.
He had planned to do defensive drills, but he scrapped it. Instead the Eels players were put through a games night, which consisted of touch football, plenty of ball movement and plenty of laughs. Arthur urged players to be daring, forget about errors, back their skills and attacking instincts.
It was their best session for months and at the end of training, coach Arthur demanded only one thing of his team, that they take the same sense of daring and risk into Saturday afternoon’s game.
It turned their season around. The change of focus liberated and invigorated the struggling team.
ORIGIN BREAK HELPED HAYNE, SAYS ARTHUR
Hayne’s form in the second half of the season has him in line for another Dally M Medal. Source: Getty Images
Since that year, you get the feeling that incredible run of form became a weight around Hayne’s neck. Certainly every time he touched the football there was an expectation that something very special was about to occur.
Whenever Hayne’s performance was anything less than eight out of 10, questions would be raised about his form, his desire or fitness. That’s hard for anyone to take, let alone someone as complex as the Parramatta No.1.
I asked Nathan Hindmarsh what is behind Hayne’s dynamic 2014 form, which appears likely to earn him another Dally M Medal, and Hindmarsh believes it’s the close relationship he shares with the coach.
“Brad Arthur,” Hindmarsh said, “coaches his players. He doesn’t view anyone to be the complete package. He views coaching as a duty to improve individuals ... even Jarryd Hayne.”
Replies
BA has been the buy of the year by a country mile, Sharpie deserves a medal for pushing for him.
Can't wait to see what he can do with a side of his making.
But i reckon , with siimilar results next year along with what deadwood cut and whom brought
in, then yes a reasonable extension and incentive options benefiting all .
No stupid 5 year crap.
I knew he was quality the day I heard Manly players praise him. Manly win premierships. And it may appear that he should be coaching Manly instead of Toovey. Toovey is living off his Manly legend fame.
Green and Arthur both are the best type of coaches. No matter where on the ladder or how big the win they always push for improvement.