www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/fe ... nald-mcrae

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/fe ... nald-mcrae

fascinating article

Was expecting some cliche comments about coming up against Melbourne but turned out to be a brilliant, honest, intriguing, often brutal, look into his life and mindset. Also of the club too, he freely admits that he can tell they're players in the changing room who don't like him as a person, can't imagine any other SL coach saying the things he said. Also confirmed what I thought that he looks perhaps at what the player is like as a person rather than just what they can do will a ball in hand.

If you've opened this thread I definitely recommend clicking on the link.

Excellent article.

Donald McRae also wrote the definitive Kevin Sinfield profile in 2005 [urlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/oct/11/rugbyleague.sport2[/url

One of the best articles I have ever read

He is a such a complex character and I think that is the most I have ever seen him open up

Brilliant read

A very enjoyable read.

A very enjoyable read.

Pretty much sums up the insular attitude that has stifled RL for so long, be it fans, players, chairmen or folk working in the media.

Indeed, he said similar at the development plan launch.

Really enjoyed reading that.

See Castleford BoD for comparison it would seem.

Great article, you either like the guy or you don`t, but I do.

As a London fan I was a bit disapointed that his time down here was barely mentioned. He did some good work but towards the end of his time he was completely unapproachable.....I would love him to do a similar interview on his London experience, what was good/bad and why he thinks we are totally unable to make any long term improvement.

Fantastic Brian.

A fascinating article, I think that Brian was very forthright and open with his views, i was particularly drawn to this comment from Mac:

[iThat's not to say you love each other because I can tell you now that there are a lot of men in there [he gestures to the changing room who don't like me. But I'd put good money on them respecting my decisions.[/i

I have heard tales that several players have been in Gary's office with complaints regarding Brian Mac and how he has treated them, Maybe these tales were true after all?

I wonder if this is the trait required to be a successful club coach as opposed to the coach that often socializes with the squad ?

I was told by the mother of a current Warrington player that lives in my area that the players at that club do not particularly like Tony Smith as a person but that they certainly respect him as a coach

Would like to see him back at odsal one day

People are complicated, you can't have everyone like you and get anything done. I think we also forget that RL players are young men. Some of them still kids. Physically they are at the peak of development but I think back to myself in my 20's and I was a total prat at times. Volatile and argumentative, very black and white on opinions etc...etc...etc... You can hear from that article that Brian himself was in his 30's and coaching before he realised things about himself. It must be very difficult (impossible I'd say) to manage a bunch of highly competitive "kids" and have them all like you.

Jamie Peacock certaintly wasn't his biggest fan at first. His insistence on knowing where his players were every minute of every day didn't go down well for a start.

Expanding a little on the McGuire comments on twitter last season.