Mogg unveiled as Sea Eagles’ coach

ADAM Mogg came through the Sunshine Coast ranks to play at the highest level.

Adam Mogg has returned to his old stomping ground to take up the job as head coach for the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles. Picture: Brett Wortman

ADAM Mogg came through the Sunshine Coast ranks to play at the highest level.

Now the former Queensland winger wants to help the region’s youngsters follow in his footsteps.

As predicted in the Daily last week, Mogg was yesterday unveiled as the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles’ coach for the 2011 season.

After taking the reins from Sydney Roosters-bound Brandon Costin, the 33-year-old said he would place a great emphasis on bringing local talent through the system.

Mogg played his junior football with the Kawana Dolphins and Caloundra Sharks before going on to rack up a total of 185 first-grade games with the Parramatta Eels, the Canberra Raiders and Super League club Les Catalans, and making two Origin appearances for Queensland.

He said one of his priorities would be to help local juniors progress from the Caloundra RSL Cup to Queensland Cup and eventually to higher honours.

“I’m really excited about it,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be involved with league on the Coast. I suppose if you’re going to be involved, this is the best opportunity.”

Mogg said the chance to move back home was the deciding factor in his decision to take on the job.

He said he had already begun putting together plans for the pre-season and would soon start assembling his playing roster.

He will be aided by Nick Paterson – Caloundra premiership-winning coach and former Cronulla Shark – who was announced as Mogg’s assistant.

“We’ve been sitting down and we need to do a bit more planning on it,” Mogg said. “That’s where Nick comes in. He knows a lot of the players, a lot of the local players.

“I’m pretty passionate about giving the local guys an opportunity and seeing who wants to put their foot forward and make a career out of rugby league.”

Speaking of the knee injury that ended his second stint with the Raiders earlier this year, Mogg said he had no thought of playing on in 2011. He will undergo surgery on his knee later this month, leaving him unable to run for six to seven months.

While the job is his first coaching role, Mogg said he had some idea of what to expect and what sort of coach he wanted to be.

“Creating the right environment is really important,” he said.

“It’s got to be a competitive fun environment. I really want to encourage a work ethic because I think it’s important.”

Originally published as Mogg unveiled as Sea Eagles’ coach