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Dual coder backs Eddie Jones to make NRL switch after shock rumours

By AAP
Eddie Jones walks into a media conference room on Thursday with England skipper Owen Farrell (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former Cronulla star Mat Rogers played under Eddie Jones for the Wallabies and has no doubt the current England rugby coach would be “a revelation” in the NRL. Dual-code legend Mat Rogers has declared Eddie Jones would be a revelation as an NRL coach and is certain his former Wallabies mentor would take the jump to rugby league in his stride.

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Rogers played under Jones for three years when he switched to the 15-man code in the early 2000s, and claims the current England rugby coach’s work ethic is among the best in sport.

Jones has been linked with Rogers’ former club at Cronulla, with reports suggesting the Sharks could consider him as an option to replace current coach John Morris.

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Jonah Lomu running riot in schoolboy 7s rugby

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Jonah Lomu running riot in schoolboy 7s rugby

The 60-year-old has never coached in rugby league, but Rogers believes from his dealings with Jones that his knowledge of the game and capacity for hard work mean he would quickly pick up the intricacies of the sport.

“He’d be a revelation,” dual-international Rogers told AAP.

“He has a brilliant mind. A brilliant sporting mind. And his work ethic is relentless. He knows the game of rugby league, he knows it really well.

“Alan Jones did it (at Balmain), and I would put Eddie Jones on another level in his work ethic. I can see him being a success 100 times over.

“There is no way I look at it where I can’t see him being a success, the way he operates.”
Jones is tied to English Rugby until 2023, and they have indicated there has been no request for a release.

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Meanwhile Morris is under contract at Cronulla until the end of next season, and made the finals last year with a reduced salary cap. 

Rogers has long believed Morris has the makings of a good NRL coach, but says he would encourage any team to pursue Jones.

He points to the way Jones built Japan’s national side ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and has subsequently turned England back into a powerhouse.

“He’s a brilliant coach and a hard taskmaster. He will get the best out of his players,” Rogers said.
“The great coaches demand a lot from their players. 

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“Look at Des Hasler, Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett. These guys are hard taskmasters but they are fair.

“Whoever landed (Jones) as coach would do well. It might be a year or two transition until he gets the squad he wants. But he is a career coach.” 

Morris, whose side are aiming to recover from a 1-3 start when they face St George Illawarra on Sunday, said he had been surprised by reports of Cronulla’s interest in Jones.

“They came from left field,” he said. “I can’t control that, I can’t control the rumours or innuendo around the game … I can’t get caught up in off-field matters like that. 

“My contract goes until the end of 2021. I’m really committed to this club and building something special.”

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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