20 things about Salford coach Matt Parish
WEDNESDAY, 08 JUNE 2011 07:05
http://www.rlcm.com.au/latest-news/10922-rugby-league
By Neil Barker - Reds bosses surprised everyone by naming unknown Aussie Matt Parish as the man to succeed Shaun McRae as head coach. Chairman John Wilkinson admitted during a press conference that many fans were possibly asking the question: "Matt who?"
In his defence, Wilkinson said the same kind of things were said when Wigan appointed Michael Maguire as coach.
MEN Sport's Neil Barker caught up with Parish in Australia as he was preparing New South Wales for this week's second Origin game.
He says he is honoured and privileged to be taking charge of Salford. Here are 20 interesting facts on Parish, who will lead Reds to their new stadium at Barton next year.
1 Matt's nostrils first inhaled winter green in the dressing room when he was just out of nappies alongside his father, Don, who was also one of Australia's finest coaches.
2 Matt, 42, loves to surf but realises opportunities in Salford will be somewhat limited!
3 John Harvey, the beefy ex-Salford boss, was a beast of an opponent according to Matt, who also played alongside another ex-Salford coach, Garry Jack, at Balmain.
4 As a player, Matt made 64 first grade appearances for Balmain between 1988 and 1993.
5 Meatloaf and the Kings of Leon are his choice of music but nothing too boppy, says Matt.
6 John Dorahy, alias Joe Cool, the ex-Wigan coach, was a tough skilful little Aussie well-known to Matt during his own progression within the NRL.
7 After landing the Salford job, Matt says he was sworn to secrecy by club bosses, and even had to hide the news from his own family.
8 Hello Fred Done - Matt loves horse racing and likes to have a punt.
9 Matt chills out by relaxing, having a few beers with his mates, but admits rugby league dominates his life.
10 His mate Ian Millward is nicknamed Basil but Matt is just Matt.
11 Matt on Matt: "I can't hide either my disappointment or my joy, but I never, ever bull**** people."
12 Matt loves cricket and enjoys golf, but says he's no Great White Shark on the fairways and greens.
13 A young Daryl Powell, the former Sheffield, Leeds and Great Britain player, played as a rookie alongside Matt at Balmain.
14 The Reds' new boss is using the internet a lot to follow the club's fortunes ahead of what will be his first visit to the UK in July.
15 Parish has revealed he was in an interview with Reds bosses in Sydney when football director Steve Simms was contacted by MEN Sport via the mobile phone of vice-chairman Howard Clague.
16 Matt and his Origin boss Ricky Stuart became great friends as team-mates and room-mates with the Under-21s Australia Rugby Union schoolboys team.
17 Born in Sydney, he now lives an hour's drive away in Terrigal.
18 As a coach, he enjoys seeing a young player develop and go all the way to the top as Mark Henry did with the North Queensland Cowboys.
19 On the Origin Series, Matt says: "It's a fantastic experience to be working with the elite coaches and players - a simply fantastic concept and experience."
20 On his playing career, he adds: "I started as a centre, love the game, but as I got a bit slower I ended up in the pack. I greatly enjoy coaching, I can't wait to get over there because I really do believe I can take Salford on - I'm privileged and honoured to have the job."
Mates help Parish score a pact with the Devils
Adrian Proszenko
June 5, 2011
Old Tiger ... Matt Parish during his playing days.
A LIST of impressive references - including ones from Canberra Test greats Laurie Daley and Ricky Stuart - has helped secure Matt Parish one of the 30 head coaching roles in world rugby league.
Parish, who during the week beat a long list of up-and-coming candidates for the position, has agreed to a 2½-year deal with the Salford Reds.
Salford chairman John Wilkinson, deputy chairman, Howard Clague, and football director Steve Simms interviewed candidates in Sydney during the week. The list reportedly included Steve Georgallis, Peter Gentle, Kurt Wrigley and Andrew Dunemann but they came away convinced Parish, a former Balmain Tigers utility, was the coach to take the Red Devils forward.
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"We've got the guy we wanted and we are very happy that Matt has chosen to take up the challenge," Simms said.
"I spoke personally to people like Laurie Daley, who has worked with Matt with Country Origin over the past two seasons, and he could not speak more highly of him. In fact, Laurie is convinced he will eventually find his way back into the NRL one day so we are fortunate to have secured someone so talented.
"And the fact that Matt will be able to come over as soon as his visa is approved is another positive for us. He can get to work straight away."
Parish, 44, is an assistant to Stuart with the NSW State of Origin team and previously had three years as Neil Henry's assistant at the Cowboys.
"It's exciting times and the club has enormous potential," Parish said. "We move into a new stadium next season, which will generate an enormous amount of revenue, and I know they are going to be most competitive as far as recruitment is concerned.
''As things stand, Luke Patten and Daniel Holdsworth are signed for next year. That leaves us three vacant quota spots, which is a very attractive position to be in. Provided things are managed properly, I am extremely confident of building a most competitive outfit."
Parish takes over from former South Sydney coach Shaun McRae, who recently resigned for health reasons.