Dermody takes over top job

‘‘I believe in the club and the region it represents, I believe in the team and the players we have, and I believe that we can achieve success if we work hard and work smart.’’ Clarke Dermody New Highlanders head coach

The Highlanders have backed the internal candidate to replace Tony Brown as head coach.

Clarke Dermody, who served as Brown’s assistant coach for the past two years, was unveiled yesterday as the man to turn around the club’s fortunes. Dermody has signed a three-year deal. ‘‘When I started with the Highlanders in 2014 it wasn’t with the purpose of someday being the head coach, I was just happy to get the opportunity to be involved with a club I have a genuine attachment with,’’ Dermody said.

‘‘Over the last 10 years or so that attachment has only strengthened through the good times and bad.

‘‘I believe in the club and the region it represents, I believe in the team and the players we have, and I believe that we can achieve success if we work hard and work smart.’’

The 42-year-old Southlander was always in a strong position to succeed Brown, particularly after an encouraging Super Rugby Trans Tasman campaign last year.

A disappointing Super Rugby Pacific campaign also prompted the Highlanders to test the market outside the region, but they have ultimately decided to promote from within.

The Highlanders are set to move to fivestrong coaching setup in 2023 – they only had four this year – with as many as three new coaches coming on board.

It is understood that defence Shane Christie has moved on.

Dermody has built a reputation as an outstanding forwards coach, and standout Highlanders No8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u said in May that he had the backing of the Highlanders’ players.

‘‘He’s been really good for me. I’ve been here four or five years, and he’s really showed me a few things that I’ve needed to improve on,’’ he said.

‘‘So you couldn’t give it to a better man. If it was up to me. He’s done it before for a little stint when Browny went off to Japan [last year]. He pushed the boys all the way to the final [against the Blues], so that shows what he can do.’’

The task for Dermody is significant. With only two All Blacks – Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava – in the Highlanders squad, he has to improve the players he has inherited as well as making some smart moves in the recruitment market.

The input of the incoming coaches will also be critical, as the Highlanders must evolve their game plans after eight consecutive losses against New Zealand opposition this year.

Dermody’s appointment signals that the Highlanders board views this year’s results as similar to the Chiefs’ poor season in 2020, when they lost eight in a row and subsequently elevated Clayton McMillan to the head coach role to replace Warren Gatland.

Chairman Peter Kean said in May that despite the Highlanders’ losses in Super Rugby Pacific, the dressing room was united.

‘‘It’s not a despondency on the board,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got to take stock, look back at what we’ve achieved [in the past], and what we’ve got coming through. Clearly, we’d love to make those playoffs because the Highlanders are a team that can beat any team on the day.’’

‘‘...but you do have seasons like that, unfortunately. But, there’s a really good feel in that team.

‘‘We’re starting to see that we have really good bunch of young players coming through. And we are working probably as well now if not better than we have for a long time with the Southland union, with Otago and North Otago, so that those young players have a pathway through to play for those provincial unions.’’