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Hickey leaves mark on NSWRU
Greg Growden | May 23, 2008
THE Waratahs coaching merry-go-round continues to spin, with the queue of candidates stretching as far as Darwin. The latest top-secret NSW Rugby Union blueprint to land on the R&M desk reveals the coaching dream team is Chris Hickey as head coach, Scott Wisemantel as backs coach, Les Kiss as defence coach, either former All Blacks skipper Todd Blackadder or David Giffin as line-out specialist and Michael Foley involved as a scrum consultant. Hickey is being pushed by three officials who will have a major say in the final decision, but one member of the advisory panel is not keen. Maybe that's why this person has been a bit snarly the last few days. Still, don't be shocked if there is an announcement concerning Hickey next week.
Kamahl calls tune
You could imagine the excitement in the media ranks on Wednesday when, at a golden oldies function at Centennial Park - which attracted several NSW officials, including CEO Jim L'Estrange - the legendary Kamahl suddenly appeared. Was Kamahl there to meet Waratahs officials? Was he the latest NSW coaching candidate? The official reason was because he will be singing the national anthem at the golden oldies opening ceremony in 2010. But the media remained sceptical. After all, the oft-criticised NSWRU board would sympathise with Kamahl's repeated query: 'Why are people so unkind?"
All white on the night
Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh revealed a fascinating bit of trivia about his teammate Rocky Elsom in a Q&A appearing in the program for tomorrow night's big match: the back-rower apparently cleans his teeth just before he runs out. And, according to Waugh, David Lyons is particularly attached to a certain undergarment.
Fighting Irish
Munster forwards coach Jim Williams will shortly be returning to Australia to become part of the Wallabies staff. He will bring with him some special memories of Ireland. On the Observer website this week, Williams explained how taken aback he was when he first arrived at Munster. "So I turned up for that session and we were doing some line-out work. David Wallace and I had been pushed out of the line-out, which was good because I could properly watch what followed. Peter Clohessy was lining up against his brother, Des; a young Alan Quinlan was in there. And something went wrong, and Quinny punched someone. Then Des waded into his brother and suddenly it was a free-for-all punch-up. Mick Galwey, the coach, was in there belting his own players. So my first impression was that these guys were mad. I remember ringing my agent and saying, 'What the hell have you got me into here? These blokes are beating the crap out of each other as much as they do the opposition'." Wallabies training camps are far gentler.
Tahs duo on move
The Waratahs' loss is Japanese club NTT's gain. Shannon Fraser, from the NSW Junior Waratahs and Academy, will become the Tokyo-based outfit's head coach, with Charlie Higgins, the Tahs' rehab guru, to be the NTT strength and conditioning man. Fraser and Higgins stress they have not been let go and are not leaving because of the ever-festering NSWRU politics. They are going for "career development".
Gates of wrath
There could be some mad banging on the gates at the SFS on Saturday night, as the first Super 14 final between the Crusaders and Hurricanes, which starts at 5.30pm, will be shown on the two big electronic screens at the ground. Great idea, but the only problem is the gates don't open until 6pm. At least legendary sports broadcaster David Lord has been looked after by the Waratahs. Lord is having his hip replaced on Monday, and wants to wear a Waratahs tracksuit while in hospital. The Waratahs have one XL tracksuit on its way.
Rumours of the week
Talk about the Wild, Wild West (GROAN). We've been told by various sources about amazing scenes in the Western Force dressing rooms at half-time in last weekend's clash against the Brumbies at Subiaco Oval. Apparently, the team's poor first-half display prompted an extraordinary temper tantrum from one notable staff member. Senior players attempted to calm it all down, and one of them took over proceedings. It obviously worked. In an incredible second half, the Force came back from 22-7 down to win 29-22.
Suggestions of a Waratahs player petition over the conduct of certain NSWRU officials. And NSWRU heavies were apparently nonplussed to see Ewen McKenzie talking to some of their biggest detractors after the Queensland win.
Who is the "Fish-throwing" NSWRU director who last week was criticising McKenzie to all and sundry for costing them a home semi-final and hundreds of thousands of dollars revenue? How silly does he feel now? Almost as silly as another official who keeps lobbying for a life membership. He has to be kidding.
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