Late bloomer Moore credits ‘hard work’ for success
WHEN Glenn Moore was dumped as Highlanders coach in 2010, his coaching career looked to be on the same trajectory as the Opportunities Party.
But on Thursday night he was crowned coach of the year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards, after guiding the Black Ferns to victory at the World Cup in Ireland in August.
It has been a case of from the outhouse to the penthouse for Moore.
When contacted yesterday, Moore said he had always loved coaching and that had never changed.
‘‘I just love the challenge of coaching. Being part of a team. Just the expectation of having to win. Every week is a new week,’’ he said.
He first coached the ZingariRichmond premier team in the late 1990s and has been coaching ever since.
He was head coach for the Highlanders in 200810 but got the dreaded ‘‘reapply for your job’’ call after a disappointing 2010 season and was subsequently replaced by Jamie Joseph.
‘‘We went through a rebuild there, but one thing I learned from that is that you have to be true to yourself. Sometimes you can get led away from that and go down paths which you, looking back at it, didn’t believe in.
‘‘But you have to stick to what you believe in. It’s about hard work, making sure you have the right culture and environment.’’
After being ousted from the Highlanders he helped coach North Otago for a couple of years, took over Mid Canterbury in 201314, where he hails from, and then took over from Greg Smith with the Black Ferns in 2015. There was also a spell with the Blues in 201516.
Winning the World Cup this year was the culmination of a three year plan.
The Black Ferns were real sponges and had a great focus.
‘‘We started off and then built a real good group of players that had success, culminating with that win in the World Cup. We found different ways to play the game and I think we showed that in the final.’’
He said the win had given a real momentum to the sport and felt women’s sport in general was on the up.
‘‘Ever since we have got back you feel there is a real groundswell of support. A real feel that the game for women is growing. I’m based in Australia and you have got the league setting up a women’s competition, the AFL last year, which sold out. Women’s cricket as well.’’