McFadden keen to stay in NRL
Andrew McFadden still has ambitions to coach in the NRL but the outgoing Warriors assistant coach says it is time to put his family first.
Yesterday, the Warriors confirmed McFadden is to leave Mt Smart at the end of the season to take his wife and three young children back to Canberra.
The former head coach of the club is hopeful of remaining in the game, but after six years in Auckland he wants to provide more support for his wife.
‘‘I haven’t lost my passion for coaching. I’ve learned a lot of skills that hopefully are transferable for other opportunities and certainly coaching is a real desire for me,’’ McFadden told The Press.
‘‘My wife made a big sacrifice coming over here six years ago. One of our children was born here and we’ve had a wonderful time. But it has been tough on her, particularly with the travel we have to do with the Warriors and it’s certainly been challenging.’’
McFadden arrived at Mt Smart as an assistant in 2013 before spending almost three seasons in the top job from 2014-2016.
Unable to break the club’s playoff drought during that period, the former Raiders, Eels and Storm halfback was replaced by current coach Stephen Kearney, who retained McFadden in his staff.
This season shapes as the last chance for McFadden to reach the finals with the Warriors.
But while they have not enjoyed the success he had hoped for in the previous five years, McFadden still feels he has been able to help implement some positive change at the club.
‘‘I think we’ve made some real ground in professional standards over the last six years since I got here,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s been a lot of change, not always for the good sometimes, but certainly in terms of the playing group with the turnover we’ve had we’re starting to lock down a solid group.
‘‘It’s a group that’s going to grow together and I’m hoping that it’s this year because I’d love to finish the season with some finals footy.’’
That was backed up by chief executive Cameron George, who praised the service ‘Cappy’ had given to the Warriors.
‘‘We’d love to see him stay but he has a growing young family and it’s important to think about their future,’’ George said.
‘‘We can’t say enough about what Cappy has done for the club so far and there’s plenty more ahead this year before he finishes.’’
McFadden admits he has been encouraged by every pre-season at the Warriors but feels the players have responded well to new trainer Alex Corvo’s methods.
They get the chance to put their hard work into practice for the first time this year, tomorrow with the trial against Melbourne in Rotorua.