Michael Cheika using NRL clubs for tips to turn the Wallabies around

WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika has revealed he accumulates information by quietly wandering into the NRL training sessions of the Roosters and Rabbitohs.

AN inquisitive Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has revealed he accumulates footy information by quietly wandering into the training sessions of Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Cheika told The Daily Telegraph he likes to extract knowledge from rugby league leading into the Wallabies’ Test against Fiji in Melbourne on Saturday.

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A mad-keen Souths fan, Cheika visited Storm coach Craig Bellamy on Wednesday and will catch up with NSW coach Laurie Daley this Thursday.

Michael Cheika with Trent Robinson during Sydney Roosters training at Moore Park. Picture: Brett Costello

“I often go, because I’m in the eastern suburbs, and watch the Roosters training. Or maybe Souths on the odd day. I just visit there and have a look. It’s interesting to have a look.

“I definitely looked at some of those drills and modified them to use for our training.”

Cheika has become close friends with Roosters coach Trent Robinson with their children going to school together.

The Wallabies coach enjoys chatting with NRL players and he said they show an interest in rugby union.

Michael Cheika mixes in with his players at Gosch's Paddock for the June Test against Fiji at AAMI Park on Saturday. Picture: Stuart Walmsley/rugby.com.au

“You can never go wrong crossing over with guys at the top of their game in different codes,” Cheika said.

“The one thing I have learned is that you don’t have to play the game in a traditional way or a certain way. Different ideas. You can see how we have probably replicated a bit of league with a lot of our out-the-back runners. They started that. And it works, definitely, in certain circumstances for us.

“The big difference I suppose is how to convert ideas from one to the other because in union, the attack is nearly 10 metres back. In league, defence is 10 metres back. Different dynamics but you can apply some of those skills accordingly.

“I grew up playing league so there is an interest there for me. Always has been. I have a lot of friends who played and coached. It’s an interesting game.”

Cheika said the rival codes had a lot of similarities and it would be mad for coaches on both sides not to use mutually beneficial information.

“You can make the comparisons about how you motivate and create the atmosphere for players. Getting them up every week,” Cheika said.

“And then it goes right down to the physical preparation. And everything in between. The footy, the skills.

“Some of the ball contests are different but there are big similarities between the two codes. Catch, pass, get the ball over the goal line and stop them from getting over.

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“Sometimes it’s just ideas that you see another team do from a different code and you can somehow relate that back to what you’re doing to keep interest, variety and to get something done better.

“Some of the stuff around the league set pieces. We like to try and do more from the set piece but there is a different philosophy and strategy around the set piece in league.

“Some of the things around contact and the types of contact. Support play. Lots of different bits and pieces that are involved.”