Goodman likely main Mako man
A replacement for departing Tasman Mako head coach Leon MacDonald could be confirmed by the end of next week – and the union believes they have a Good-man for the job.
This week MacDonald, a 56-test All Black and former Canterbury, Marlborough Red Devil and Crusader utility back, announced a move to join the Auckland-based Blues Super Rugby franchise in 2019.
He was last involved in Super Rugby in 2017, as attack coach for the title-winning Crusaders. MacDonald has signed on for three years as an assistant and attack coach under head coach Tana Umaga.
He will move north once he coaches Tasman for the final time in this year’s National Provincial Championship. TRU chief executive Tony Lewis said while MacDonald had left with one year to run on his contract, the union had the coaching structure in place to maintain a long succession plan from within the region
‘‘As I’ve said before, our job is to grow our club players and turn them into Mitre 10 Cup players, Super Rugby players and All Blacks – the same goes for our coaches.’’
He said as with MacDonald, Keane and inaugural coach Todd Blackadder, Lewis envisaged the next head coach having close ties to the Tasman region.
The current Mako coaching set-up included Andrew Goodman, Shane Christie and former All Black Clarke Dermody.
Lewis said from a continuity point of view, Goodman had the inside running as MacDonald’s successor. A former Mako captain with overseas playing stints in Ireland and Japan, Goodman had been the Mako skills coach during MacDonald’s reign and had coaching experience at club level with Nelson, the Crusaders Academy, Tasman Women and Nelson College 1st XV.
‘‘It would be great if we can secure Andrew as a head coach, but we’ll go through the right process where our committee will make recommendations to the board. That could come as quickly as next week ... one way or another, by the end of May we’ll know what the 2019 head coach looks like – we’ll either have an appointment or go to the market.’’