Wayne Smith

But you've been around high-performing coaching with your dad your life.

You've had time with Wayne Smith, the professor.

So when you got the role as head coach, Was it hard, difficult to go, this is my team and this is what I want to do? And how much of what you learnt from your dad and Wayne and other coaches you've went with, but now you've got the ability to be Whitney the coach.

Tell me about that process.

Also had in a couple of texts about what we were talking about there.

What about Gordon Tygen's influence on New Zealand Sevens, Everlasting Legacy, Dick Tonks in rowing, Wayne Smith in rugby culture changing.

So there were some toppies.

Gordon Titchens is amazing.

How good is he? I understand there are potential discussions too at some point for him to possibly even be brought into the Blues coaching setup, but he is a smart, smart guy.

A lot of people describe him as very much Wayne Smith-like, the professor.

Real intellect on him.

Probably if he wants to get a job with the All Blacks, he probably needs to get on the cover of Women's Day.

Um, yeah.

And you, you're always learning, aren't you? Like, um, we learnt a lot when I, when I was with Steve and Wayne and Mike Cron, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith and Mike Cron, um, in that group.

And, and you like the opportunity to pass that learning on.

Um, but just you're constantly learning what's the best way of doing these things, and this team doesn't do the same as what we did, and they've added other things, which is, that's what it is about, constantly learning and trying to get better.

We have to lead ourselves before we can lead anyone else.

Wayne Smith from the All Blacks said, people rise to a challenge if it's their challenge.

No one does what they're told.

They do what they tell themselves.

So did you notice this in the New Zealand rugby team?

Well, interesting, the New Zealand rugby, you know, obviously it's a scaled-down version of it, but the idea that leaders create leaders.

Wayne Smith from the All Black Setup has a great line.

He says they wanted to create leaders who create leaders who create leaders.

It's good that they played together at the Storms as well.

I think watching the game on the weekend, it reminded me of Wayne Smith, you know, one of our greatest coaches and technicians.

And when you watch Damian McKenzie, I think Sasha needs to take a leaf out of his book because it's that double touch.

You know, Damien McKenzie's getting that second touch, which Wayne Smith used to love, you know, get a second touch.

And you saw Damien pass, but then he was coming in behind for those loop rounds.

And I think, you know, I agree with that sort of second year syndrome, but the best way you can beat that is actually getting your second touch because people don't know where you are and how you're getting it.

I personally think it's a psychological thing that We just don't put enough time and effort into those areas of the game.

Just to touch on that really quick, I saw some stuff from Wayne Smith in his time when he was at the All Blacks, and they went into absolutely every little 1% of thing, and they got in, like, they actually, rather than just getting a psychologist in for a box-ticking exercise, they actually got something out of it.

And, you know, they approached players as to why they're drifting in and out of games, all that sort of stuff.

They use it as a... as an advantage and something that we're actually getting something out of as opposed to just having a resource that you can tap into if you want to.

Yeah.

Uh, funny you should say that because the flat backline, when Wayne Smith brought it into the All Blacks when he was attack coach, people were going, "What are you doing?" Um, but in fact, the Wallabies, you're right, had, had, had done that.

And of course, the other thing about that team or w- was the fact that you had this new whiz kid on the side, fellow by the name of David Campese, and you mentioned that test match at Athletic Park.

I was there, uh, to, to see that test match.

That's why they were title winners.

Their click plays, and Wayne Smith was heavily involved in that as well, they were the best click play team in the comp.

They focused on counter attack.

Getting back, getting into shape, working their way back into attack and then getting back into structure to keep going as a team.