North Queensland Cowboys interim coach aims for the job long term
“Certainly the past 12 months it’s been something that’s become clearer in my own mind it was something I was feeling more and more ready for.”
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COWBOYS’ interim coach Josh Hannay will not be aiming to be just that — he wants the top job long term.
The former North Queensland star served as Paul Green’s assistant for three-and-a-half years, and is eager to mix what he learned under the 47-year-old with his own brand of mentorship.
While a host of potential candidates have been thrown up outside the club, Hannay will be looking to make the most of this opportunity to establish his credentials in the head role.
His first day in the position was “with a heavy heart” given his relationship with Green, but he said he will have to flick the switch quickly to have his side prepared.
That will begin with the build up to Friday night, when he leads the side for the first time against the Manly Sea Eagles at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
“Certainly the past 12 months it’s been something that’s become clearer in my own mind it was something I was feeling more and more ready for,” Hannay said.
“I’d like to think the club wouldn’t be giving me this opportunity if they didn’t think I had something to offer, not only now but into the future.
“I’ll be approaching it as an opportunity to well and truly take my chance, and show the club and playing group what I’m about, what my approach and philosophy is all about, and certainly it’s a golden opportunity if I do want to become a head coach, which I do.
“All I can control is what I can do in the next 10 weeks and put my best foot forward, and show the club and playing group I’m capable of leading this club into the future.
“I can’t control what candidates there are out there, what I can control is what I do with this group and how I approach each week.”
From his apprenticeship under Green, Hannay will take away the “finer details of preparation” and how important attention to detail is.
However he said what would embody how he coaches is in how he relates to the players.
The 40-year-old said key to his style would be understanding his athletes inside and out — what drives them, motivates them, and what triggers them to perform at their best.
Hannay will not be seeking to “reinvent the wheel” now that he has assumed the reins, however he is his “own man, own coach” and has his own ideas on what the team needs to succeed.
With a host of youngsters in the squad, the new coach said errors were inevitable as they continued to grow, but his job would now entail stamping out the lack of consistency in their game.
“One thing that I think has been hallmark of us as a club the last couple of years is inconsistency. Our good is very good, our bad has been horrible,” Hannay said.
“For the remaining 10 weeks I think we really need to address our consistency and see more of what we saw on Sunday.
“When I watched that game you could see real grit and determination about the group, and we need to make sure we springboard off that and put a good period of football together.
“I certainly won’t be pulling everything apart and starting all over again, because I think that would be the wrong way to go about things.
“You’ll see some slight changes to how we play, there’ll be some slight differences to how we prepare … (but) it’s not about tearing everything up and starting again, it is about putting my touch and spin on things.”
Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys interim coach aims for the job long term