Andrew Webster’s first interview: How Wests Tigers chaos prepared rookie coach for NRL furnace

New Warriors coach Andrew Webster’s appointment went largely under the radar. The former Panther assistant coach explains what made the transition so simple.

New coach Andrew Webster takes charge at a Warriors training session. Credit: Bodie Friend, warriors.kiwi

One of the first phone calls new Warriors coach Andrew Webster made was to Kiwi great Shaun Johnson.

Johnson’s career was at the crossroads with some believing his career was over. But Webster had other ideas.

“I told Shaun that if he had the fire and ambition to play at the highest level and to his potential then I wanted him here,” Webster said. “I couldn’t have made that clearer. He couldn’t have answered stronger.

“I know when he is happy off the field and connected to his family that Shaun plays his best football. I know that from first hand experience. When he returned home late last year he played his best football. I’m excited about the legacy Shaun can leave.”

Shaun Johnson has rediscovered his form with the Warriors. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

APPOINTMENT

Unlike his former fellow assistant coach at Penrith Cameron Ciraldo, Webster’s appointment went largely under the radar.

Ciraldo attracted almost daily headlines with clubs scrambling for his signature.

At the Warriors though they had eyes for Webster following Nathan Brown’s abrupt exit. Webster had the benefit of having worked at the Warriors previously for two seasons under Andrew McFadden.

“It felt good,” Webster said. “Everyone asks if you’re ready to be a head coach. If I stayed at Penrith for five more years then I would’ve been five more years ready. Having an opportunity to work at a club I knew and felt comfortable at is a big advantage. If someone else got offered the Warriors job and had never been or loved living in Auckland it would’ve been a different challenge.”

Webster spoke with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, who remains highly respected at the Warriors before taking on the job.

New coach Andrew Webster takes charge at a Warriors training session. Picture: Bodie Friend

“Like anything in life you sit there and you work out the pros and cons,” Webster said. “It wasn’t a hard sell but I had to go through every part of it. I had a good feeling in my stomach throughout the whole process.

“The conversations with Ivan were largely around him being a friend and mentor. He was a great sounding board and very supportive.”

COPY CAT

Webster has had first grade coaching experience before. It may have been for only two games as an interim coach at the Tigers in 2017 but the sideshow which accompanied that short stint has prepared Webster for what is coming.

“It helped me a huge amount in a lot of ways,” Webster said.

“As an interim coach, one thing I do know now is that you can have an influence but you can’t change the world in seven days. You can make them happier and change things slightly.

“It is mental rather than technical. I walked away from the experience feeling that the pressure didn’t get much more than what I faced and I felt comfortable.

“I know there is a different element now because I really had nothing to lose. But getting microphones thrown in front of your face with 20 journalists standing in front of you on day one — I don’t think anything can prepare you for that. I walked away from that experience feeling more comfortable managing a group.”

The Tigers stint may have hardened Webster for the challenge ahead but it was his two seasons at Penrith which opened his eyes to success. The easy option? To mimic what he learnt at the Panthers.

Former Manly utility Dylan Walker sporting his new colours at the Warriors. Picture: Bodie Friend

“The biggest mistake coaches make is they copy and paste things from where they’ve been,” Webster said.

“But that might not suit this group of players. We have things that are non-negotiables.

“We are going to have a team that works hard and be a skilful attacking side.

“There are a million things that are fresh about the Warriors. We’ve gone home and have stability.

“The good parts of the roster are still around and we’ve signed good players. There isn’t a complete overhaul of the staff but it feels new.

“The best way for the Warriors to have success is via the pathways which is hard to do when the players haven’t been in New Zealand.

“The staff have done a terrific job while the NRL side has been away.”

HALVES BATTLES

Dylan Walker headlines a list of new recruits. He joins the likes of Marata Niukore, Luke Metcalf, Mitchell Barnett and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad as the new faces.

“I see Dylan as that perfect No. 14,” Webster said.

“He can play anywhere at a high level. If we have injuries he may play centre one week but if everyone is fit and healthy he will be our bench utility.

“Metcalf is exciting. He is ambitious.

“He is going to push everyone to take a spot. Ronald Volkman wants to be a starting halfback. It’s going to create a headache for me.”

Originally published as Andrew Webster’s first interview: How Wests Tigers chaos prepared rookie coach for NRL furnace