'I've got ADD coming out my ears': Berrick Barnes on new coaching journey

He won’t make any bold declarations, but don’t rule out sporting marvel Berrick Barnes from one day coaching the Wallabies.

The former playmaker’s credentials are soaring after Barnes helped plot the Saitama Wild Knights to nine wins from 10 starts in a flying start to the Japan Rugby League One season.

Since hanging up the boots in 2020, aside from a club rugby cameo in Lennox Head, Barnes is building quite the coaching CV.

His exploits as the Wild Knights’ attack coach come after the 39-year-old enjoyed stints at the Newcastle Knights, serving under Eddie Jones as Australia’s kicking coach in 2023, assisting the Japanese women’s team, and working as a consultant for Kyuden Voltex in Japan’s second division.

“I just enjoy it, mate,” Barnes told AAP from Tokyo.

“Where else do you get to help young people like this? Yes, there’s tough aspects to it, but there’s tough aspects to sitting in 40-degree heat as a scaffolder or roofer in Brisbane, too.”

His early successes and love for the game begs the question: does the one-time Wallabies vice-captain have aspirations of coaching his ex-Queensland Reds or even the national team?

“I’ve got mates of mine who go, ‘Yeah, I want to be the Wallabies coach one day’. I said, ‘That’s awesome, mate. Good on you’, but I don’t tempt fate in that sense,” Barnes said.

“I’ve got a theory where I sign my contract, honour that, do my best, and if it’s working out and I’m enjoying it, I’ll try to keep going in that role.

“And if it pivots due to career or family, then that happens too. But I certainly don’t put any limits on where I’ll end up.”

With a son turning 14 and an 11-year-old daughter back home in Ballina, Barnes is testing the waters in Japan under the mentoring of the Wild Knights’ long-time coach and now executive adviser Robbie Deans.

“I’m just trying to work out if that’s a feasible option, being a full-time coach on the family front, because I really love coaching,” he said.

“One year in and it’s going OK at the moment, but I’m not that guy with a five-year plan.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

1

Draws

1

Wins

3

Average Points scored

27

33

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

20%

Barnes admits he can’t really see himself doing much else.

The laid-back character chuckles when recalling his only other work experience being helping his dad supply jukeboxes and pool tables to pubs and clubs in Brisbane when he was just out of school.

“I had about a year of doing that and quickly realised footy was a pretty good gig – and so was uni,” Barnes said.

“Since then, I haven’t had a day job. I’ve been either a player or a coach.

“I figure, let’s be honest, life’s pretty short to get good at a couple of things, so I’ve had 34, 35 years’ experience in football. That’s a pretty good knowledge to draw on.”

As is being able to draw on the knowledge of the many master coaches Barnes has played under or worked with since debuting in the NRL as a teenager for the Brisbane Broncos back in 2005.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be in the Wallabies set-up with Eddie and learn a lot there, and throughout my career I’ve been around and been coached by some of the best, which has been really fortunate,” he said.

“I’ve had Wayne Bennett. I’ve had ‘Deansy’ for a long time. Eddie. I’ve had Michael Cheika.

“I’ve had a really good base with a lot of guys, a lot of different experiences, which has been cool.”

Barnes, though, didn’t always see himself becoming a career coach.

“So here is my great failure story,” he said ahead of the Wild Knights’ top-of-the-table clash against Kubota on Saturday.

“I’ve tried four different degrees at four different unis and never finished one.

“I really enjoy studying. I’m just not great at doing two things at once.”

Which is somewhat surprising for a freakish sporting all-rounder who apparently could also have been a Test cricketer, swimmer or golfer after excelling in high school.

He first attempted a double degree in business management and human movements.

“That lasted about a year. It was pretty tough to study when you’re at the Broncos back then,” Barnes said.

Then he went to the Reds and tried a business management course, before attempting a graduate certificate at Sydney Uni while playing for the NSW Waratahs.

“Then the last one was teaching, which is the one thing I wish I’d done,” Barnes said.

“If I’d done any degree, I wish I just got a teaching degree.

“I just bloody well love being around people who want to learn, and kids.

“I spend all my time when I’m home coaching kids’ teams. I’ve got ADD coming out my ears, and if I’m out in nature and I’m doing something active, that’s what floats my boat.

“So we’ll see, mate. We’ll see where it all takes me.”