Josh Carr gets a contract extension at North Adelaide

NORTH Adelaide has reacted to the rise of the Roosters as a competition threat with a new contract for coach Josh Carr.

Josh Carr will stay at North Adelaide for at least another two years. Picture: Matt Loxton

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THE emergence of North Adelaide as a serious premiership contender has earned coach Josh Carr a two-year contract extension.

Roosters chief executive Greg Edwards claimed the decision to reappoint the former Port Adelaide star, in the final season of a three-year deal, had been easy.

And it was not just the Roosters’ rise to the top of the ladder after 11 rounds which had inspired the move, but the work of Carr improving the reputation of the club.

North players celebrate a goal during an impressive win against the Eagles earlier this season. Picture SARAH REED

“The board were keen to see how we had progressed this year with respect to moving forward with Josh,” Edwards said.

“Even at the end of last year, we won only four games, but there was a fair bit to like in many games.

“In five or six games we were up in the last quarter and lost. There was certainly progression and it was much better than year one.

“You could see Josh’s vision start to come out. Josh gave a vision to the board of where we were going and he has stuck to that plan.”

Edwards said the game plan was now entrenched and the Roosters were getting the rewards for playing better for longer.

He noted Carr had developed as a coach in his time with the Roosters and said he sees the game clearly and how he wants the team to play.

An overhaul of the culture was also necessary, according to Edwards, and that was being achieved.

“He understands the game really well and his communication is good throughout the club,” Edwards said.

“As a coach and leader he is better than he was. We had come out of a couple of years of poor performance and the culture had drifted, no doubt about that. Josh came in and there was a big sweep throughout the club and the list changed by over 20.

“We were all aware that year one in his tenure would be a real learning and development of young players, developing the culture we needed.

“That does not happen overnight coming from where we were.”

Edwards said the senior coach was the face of the club and Carr presented himself extremely well.

He said the members had warmed to the coach because of his honesty and always making himself available to speak to them after a win or loss.

“It was not a hard decision at all to give him another contract,” Edwards said.