Coach Dan McKellar says a re-build of the Waratahs will be not be a quick fix after years of malaise, and identified the NSW pathway system and developing the state’s best young talent as the most bankable route to sustainable success.
McKellar shared his vision for the future after the Waratahs’ season came to a crushing end on Saturday, with a 46-6 defeat to the Blues in Auckland closing the door on a bid to finish in the top six.
In McKellar’s first year in charge, the Tahs finished eighth with six wins and eight losses; an improvement on the 2-12 record in last year’s wooden-spoon campaign. Compared to the first-year returns of previous Tahs coaches, it was below Darren Coleman (8-6), Daryl Gibson (8-6) and Michael Cheika (8-8), but better than Michael Foley (4-12) and Rob Penney (5-9).
Every new coach turns up with a different hand to play, and while the Tahs were this year boosted by several ex-Rebels stars and $1.6 million recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the latter was injured for half of season, and the side’s other newcomers displayed the same inconsistent form as the rest of the squad. Taniela Tupou’s season was one to forget, and has prompted major questions about his role for the Wallabies in the Lions series.
The immaturity of the Waratahs’ depth was exposed by injuries to Suaalii and Max Jorgensen, who were both superb when on the field – and sorely missed when they weren’t.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was superb in his first Super Rugby Pacific season – when he wasn’t injured.Credit: Getty Images
The Tahs will be able to hang their hat on mostly strong home form, which saw them win 5-2 in Sydney, including wins over the Brumbies and minor premiers, the Chiefs. But that was offset by a dismal 1-6 record away, where their defence fell away sharply.
“What we’re trying to do here is make the change that’s going to set the NSW Waratahs up for years to come, and I’m not going to go about it with a Band-Aid solution,” McKellar said.
“The change that we need to make is on a daily basis, and the professionalism and the standards, and what’s expected of one another, that brings consistency of training which leads to consistency of performance.
“When I stepped foot in the door, it wasn’t where it needed to be. And the players have certainly bought into that and the change and progress there has been significant.
Dan McKellar says the turnaround won’t be quick.Credit: Getty Images
“Unfortunately, when you’re going through what we’re going through at the moment, if you want to put in place something that’s going to allow for sustainable success, it takes time to change. And you don’t always see that progress on the field through results and outcomes.”
Asked when he believed the side would make that change, turn the corner and be consistently successful, McKellar said: “I can’t put a timeline on it but it’s not going to happen quickly.”
“We’re going back multiple years here and it’s got nothing to do with any other previous programs, or previous coaches, but the reality is that it’s not something that’s new.
“I think how we’re going to get real change is by making sure that we identify the best young players in NSW that are desperate to want to play for NSW, and we keep them and we bring them through and develop them into good NSW players. That’s how we’re going to get the real change, and that’s going to take some time.
“I knew we were going to have some good times, and I knew that we were going to have some tough days and that hasn’t changed. So there hasn’t been any real surprises.
“I knew it was going to be a big job – but that excites me. We all want a strong and successful NSW Waratahs.
“There’s been significant changes to the group, but you can already see the progress that’s been made there around how we do things. I know people don’t see that, and they might regard it as rubbish. But we are in this for the long haul. And that’s how you get sustainable change.”
McKellar said he would now begin to focus on finalising the Tahs’ roster for next year, and confirmed the front row would be an area of priority, with Angus Bell playing in Ulster, and Tupou is also yet to make a call on his future. Mahe Vailanu, Julian Heaven, Rob Leota and Langi Gleeson are leaving, and Tane Edmed is a possible departure, too.
He will look at recruitment in all positions, but McKellar said the key to success is getting the NSW production line right.
“There’s never going to be an issue with talent in NSW – it’s making sure we maintain and hold and develop the good young ones we’ve got,” McKellar said.
“We’ve got a number of good ones coming through that 20s program. Guys like Eamon Doyle, Sid Harvey, Austin Durbidge, Marshall Le Maitre, Toby Brial, these boys. They’re in our system now, and they’re the future. So when they become Super Rugby players, they’ll know what’s expected of them, day in and day out.”
The Waratahs will have a week off before coming back together to begin preparations for the tour match against the British and Irish Lions on July 5. McKellar said he expects new recruit Matt Phillip will be in the mix for the clash, but Pete Samu is unlikely given Clermont are a strong chance to play in the Top 14 final.
“There’s a bit of a sour taste in people’s mouths after Auckland, so we’ve got a great opportunity in front of a full house at Allianz in what’s a once in a career opportunity for players and coaches,” McKellar said.
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