Departing Keiron Lander shares season review before moving on

Having turned down the Ipswich Jets head coaching role for next season, Keiron Lander shares his final thoughts on a testing but promising season for the club.

After 12 years of leadership service, Keiron Lander has stepped aside as Ipswich Jets head coach. Picture: Josh Woning

Having turned down the Ipswich Jets head coaching role for next season, Keiron Lander welcomes some valuable family time before reassessing his future.

He’s leaving the Jets with 12 years of fond memories having shared in major glories like captaining the Ipswich side that won the 2015 state league and interstate challenge grand final double.

The popular clubman also ends his Intrust Super Cup coaching reign having been a head coach, mentor, trainer, assistant and recruiter.

“It will be good just to freshen up and sit back and enjoy a bit of time with family,’’ Lander said.

“I have plenty of things to do. I’m not too concerned.

“The club has been a wonderful place for me and a big part of my life for 12 years . . . good memories and I’ll be looking and watching with interest and we’ll see how things unfold after that.’’

LANDER’S INCREDIBLE RECORD

Although offered a restructured job for next season, Lander said he couldn’t meet the full-time requirements.

“I’m disappointed with the decision,’’ Lander said.

“I thought what we doing was working and heading in the right direction.

“The club want to move the football operations and full-time coaching position into one.

“I can’t move away from a job that I’ve done for 12 years.’’

However after taking over from Walker brothers Shane and Ben, Lander finished his head coaching stint with a satisfying victory - a 30-22 upset success over Intrust Super Cup minor premiers Norths.

The stunning result at the North Ipswich Reserve on September 11 also sent retiring stalwart Tyson Lofipo out a winner.

Lofipo was earlier joined on the retirement list by playmaker Josh Cleeland, who was also effectively forced to hang up the boots due to ongoing injury issues.

Peter Gubb and Wes Conlon stepped down after starting the season.

Lander is keen to relax after another season of Jets commitment. But he won’t be taking a break until completing his Deadly Choices commitments working on this week’s Queensland Murri carnival in Brisbane.

Keiron Lander. Picture: Josh Woning

As the Jets search for a new head coach, Lander paused to offer some final thoughts on Ipswich’s 13th place finish with three wins, a draw and a number of narrow losses.

FAVOURITE MOMENT: “The way we finished our last game. Seeing Tyson out and seeing those young fellas that have just stuck in there and all coming together against the minor premiers. That’s where we are heading - a good place.’’

TESTING TIMES: “The challenge was probably the injuries and the depth. That’s always been a challenge of being able to manage that.’’

This season also presented an added demand with the Jets having a second side in the Rugby League Ipswich A-Grade competition.

MOST DIFFICULT PART: “The toughest thing as a coach is when you work on things and you get it right for 60 minutes. Then for 10 minutes, you get it really wrong and that’s probably a little bit of the frustrations.’’

KEEPING POSITIVE: After having 76 players in the pre-season, the squad was trimmed to 57 for trials and reduced to 40 to field two teams (Intrust Super Cup and Rugby League Ipswich A-Grade competition).

A series of injuries created incredible pressure and left the Jets second side short at the back end of the season. “I’m really proud of our squad actually . . . to go through what we’ve done this year, not too many have done it.

“The other thing too is we haven’t had the luxury to go and buy too many players. But also do you go with 50 blokes or do you go with 30 blokes?

“We didn’t have that luxury so we dealt with what we’ve got and we done a wonderful job.’’

GREAT SUPPORT: The coaching and assistant staff included Mark Bishop, Dane Phillips, Fred Belford and Jonathan Dore. “Everyone puts in.’’

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ono So’oialo who impressed at fullback, centre and serving utility roles after being on the bench at the start of the year.

“In the majority of our games, after those first couple of rounds, he was first picked every week. I just could trust that he would do a good job.

“I challenged Ono in the off-season to test himself and he did. That’s definitely one of my highlights of the year.’’

Valuable Jets utility Ono So'oialo. Picture: Kevin Farmer

FAVOURITE TRY: “We didn’t score a lot of long field tries, which is very different to a lot of our years.’’

However, one scored by Tyson Lofipo against Northern Pride stood out for Lander.

“He done the right foot step, got on the outside and made a little runaway break. He was probably 20 metres out and he probably thought it was 50.’’

Retiring Jets stalwart Tyson Lofipo scored one memorable try this season.

MOST ENJOYABLE PART OF COACHING: Seeing players like brothers Gerome and Denzel Burns, Blake Lenehan and Tyler Coburn rising up the ranks.

“They are local Ipswich (players). They have got enormous talent and show enormous potential. They’ve just got to now move that potential and ability into consistency and put themselves in a position to be looked at in higher levels.’’

WHAT LANDER LEARNT IN HIS ROLE: “As you coach, we analyse the game a lot. I try not to over analyse but try to learn something each week.

“I learnt just to look at things differently. The amount of changes we’ve had this year, you’ve got to be able to adapt and be flexible. I think I’ve done that well and just learn modification to what works for players or the team, which I really enjoyed.’’

TIP TO WIN ISC GRAND FINAL: “Well-round, steady’’ Norths with senior players.

“Burleigh play tough but their squad looks very aged.

“Wynnum I’m unsure. Not sold on Wynnum yet.’’

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