LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Q What did you get up to off the field with a young family and for work?

A I was pretty lucky actually. I was nearly a fulltime captain-coach. I worked for the club, from doing a bit of cellar work to maintenance, landscaping, doing the fields until the role broadened and the club put me on as a bit of an administrator in terms of looking after a bit of sponsorship and running the club and helping a lot of the volunteers we did have. So I was pretty lucky and very fortunate that happened and that helped me develop and being able to handle I suppose the job of an NRL coach because there’s more to it than coaching a bunch of footballers. Then I went to coach the under-20s at Melbourne. You’ve got a few people helping you but it’s like you were the CEO. I’ve had a really good landing.

Q What was the favourite chill-out spot in Cairns for you and the family?

A Look I was still a young captaincoach so I liked to be around the boys a bit and have a beer. Being at the club on a Saturday afternoon was good having a beer and a bet with the boys and after training on a Thursday night. We had a pretty good, tight group and then all the families would come back after the game and have a barbecue after every home game on a Sunday, so it was a real family-orientated club and we did have a lot of families but we also had a few young single blokes who liked that atmosphere as well.