COWBOYS COUP
Warwick lands quality coach for 2018
RUGBY LEAGUE: Former NRL Coach of the Year Phil Economidis has been appointed Warwick Cowboys A-grade coach for next year.
“My primary aim will be to foster local talent at the Cowboys,” he said.
“I watched some games during the season and the under 18 Cowboys team in the grand final and believe many of the U18s can make the transition into A grade next season. We need to strengthen two or three positions in A grade.”
Economidis was the most successful of the five coaches who were in charge of Gold Coast Chargers team in an 11-year period.
He was coach from 1996 to 1998 and was preparing for another season when his club was cut from the NRL.
He was NRL Coach of the Year in 1997 after he guided his team into the finals series after predictions they wouldn’t win a game.
He wants to make training interesting and informative.
“My plan is to incorporate a lot of skills work into the fitness aspect of training,” he said.
After his success with the Chargers in 1997, Economidis was dubbed a miracle worker but when it comes to the Cowboys in 2018, he said all the focus had to be on the players.
“I have the fire in the belly and passion for the game to coach my town team,” he said.
After the Chargers demise, Economidis spent two years in France with Toulouse and then at Souths Logan.
He has lived in Warwick for four years and been a regular player at the Warwick Golf Club.
Cowboys president David O’Leary said Economidis brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.
“He has a good record in developing players and will build on the platform set up by A-grade coach Craig Mullaly and his assistant in the past two seasons,” O’Leary said.