Mystery over performance guru’s exit from Warriors
Negative feedback by players may have played role in sudden departure to Aussie
Mystery surrounds the departure of high performance guru Alex Corvo from the Warriors. The club say he is returning to Australia for family reasons, but the Herald understands some negative feedback from the playing group may have also been a contributing factor.
Corvo was the head of performance (head trainer) at the Auckland club, after arriving to much fanfare before the 2018 season.
The former Raiders player was credited with the upswing in performances that year, as the Warriors looked fitter and had more endurance than in previous seasons.
But he’s leaving after his second campaign, with a year remaining on his contract, with his exit confirmed by head coach Stephen Kearney at last week’s awards night.
“He’s going home because he wants to be closer to his family,” Kearney told the Herald.
“Most of his family is back in Australia so he has decided to go back, so that is the reasoning. We are very respectful of that situation. That’s a no brainer. That’s why we have come to the decision. It is a mutual understanding . . . [with] Alex wanting to head back to Australia to be closer to his family.”
Corvo declined to speak about his departure, saying via text, “I have no comment to make”.
Corvo has an impressive CV. He was at the Melbourne Storm for 11 seasons from 2002-2013, a period when they made four straight grand finals (2006-09) and won the 2012 premiership. He then spent three seasons at the Broncos, and was in the Kangaroos set up for six years under Tim Sheens. Corvo has also been part of the Queensland State of Origin programme for the last three campaigns.
But it’s understood his methods didn’t always find favour with the playing group at Mt Smart, especially after the first season.
It’s believed dissatisfaction was expressed in reviews submitted by the players.
However, Warriors CEO Cameron George denied there were playerrelated issues with Corvo, and said he had left a great legacy.
“Alex has absolutely raised all standards here and our base level in that respect has gone to a new level that we haven’t experienced previously,” he said. “He has been a great contributor and is held in the highest regard by the club. He helped this club go in the right direction, and that will be proven in the long run.”
There has been significant personnel changes in the Warriors’ performance and medical area over the last few years. Former head physiotherapist John Love left at the end of the 2018 season, after eight years with the club. Former head trainer Balin Cupples also departed around the same time, after four years at Mt Smart. Cupples worked as a deputy to Corvo in 2018 — after being in the head of performance role himself for three seasons — and is now at the Newcastle Knights.
During last season physiotherapist Luke Wilson and physical performance coach Mark
Harvey, who had previously worked with the
Blues and New Zealand
Sevens, also left the Warriors. Harvey is now at the Breakers.
And long-time head of medical John Mayhew also recently retired, after 15 seasons as the club’s doctor. George says they have already started the recruitment process to replace Corvo. He added that their search is not limited to league. “We are open-minded in that respect.”