Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika makes surprise cross-code switch
Ex-Wallabies boss Michael Cheika has made a cross-code coaching switch to join the Sydney Roosters on a short-term coaching advisor’s role.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the 52-year-old is assisting the reigning back-to-back NRL champion club’s head coach Trent Robinson by working with the squad’s coaches and the players’ attacking skills.
“He is helping push myself and the assistant coaches to improve and challenging our ideas and helping push us again in 2020,” Robinson said.
Continue reading below…
The move to rugby league comes after Cheika ended his five-year tenure with the Wallabies following a dismal quarter-final exit at the hands of eventual runners-up England at last year’s World Cup in Japan.
He has been linked to a return to France with Top 14 club Montpellier, eight years after he left Stade Francais to join the Waratahs in Super Rugby, but will stay in Sydney for the time being as he works with the Roosters one day a week until at least the end of pre-season.
“I’ve loved it. I was really honoured that they thought I could contribute. I want to make sure the stuff I’m doing is contributing the way Trent wants me to,” Cheika told the Telegraph.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rh_gkgkhc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Through their long-time friendship, Robinson and Cheika linked up in 2014 to hold a joint training session between the Roosters and Waratahs.
It isn’t the first time that rugby union and league coaches have switched between the sports to lend their expertise to the opposite code.
England head coach Eddie Jones sought the services of Canberra Raiders boss Ricky Stuart to observe his side’s World Cup training last year, and has recently added former Kangaroos international and Melbourne Storm assistant coach Jason Ryles to his coaching staff.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rZxxUgRbS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
New Ireland head coach Andy Farrell represented England in both codes, and was a Great Britain rugby league representative alongside former Wales assistant Shaun Edwards, who has now taken up the same post with France.
Additionally, dual international Michael O’Connor served as head coach of Australia’s men’s sevens team between 2008 and 2014, and was last year a selector for the Wallabies alongside Cheika and director of rugby Scott Johnson.
Outspoken broadcaster Alan Jones has coached at high levels in both union and league, taking charge of the Wallabies between 1984 and 1987 before assuming the helm of the Balmain Tigers in the NSWRL four years later.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
37 Go to comments