Bulletin’s Big Q&A with new Gold Coast Titans assistant coach Jim Dymock
HE won an NRL premiership, World Cup and State of Origin series as a player before launching a successful coaching career.Now, Jim Dymock is hoping to lead a Titans revival, as he discusses in this week’s Big Q&A.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HE won an NRL premiership, World Cup and State of Origin series as a player before launching a successful coaching career.
Now, Jim Dymock is hoping to lead a Titans revival in his new role as Justin Holbrook’s assistant.
Q. You’ve been at a few clubs now - how are you finding the new role at the Titans so far?
A. I’m enjoying it. Pre-season is always easy for the staff, it’s hard for the players. We haven’t played a game yet so everyone is faster, everyone is stronger but we’ll wait and see til the games come around. I was more of an attacking player but I’ve sort of been pigeonholed now as a defensive (coach). I enjoy both sides of rugby league. I’ll be doing that with the forwards, attack and defence.
‘WE’RE IN NO RUSH’ - MENINGA DISCUSSES LATU EXIT, ARROW FUTURE
Q. Is it tough fitting into a new club and working with people you might not have previously?
A. For me, not really. The football fraternity, they’re pretty close and they’re pretty similar with whatever club you go to. They’re very welcoming and they’ve made me feel right at home here. Majority of the clubs and the people within it are the same but there are different systems put in place at different clubs. We’re starting fresh here and Justin is implementing some systems. We’re trying to keep it simple but hopefully they can stick to it.
Q. What were some of the things that attracted you to the Gold Coast?
A. It’s an opportunity to come to a club who have been struggling for a bit but (have a chance) for something special to happen. I’d love to be involved in bringing a premiership to the Gold Coast. They could never take that away from us so hopefully that happens while I’m here. But also my wife had some family up here and one of her brothers is a little bit crook so everything sort of fell into place.
WHERE THE TITANS’ ARROW CASH SHOULD BE SPENT
Q. Coming to the club as an outsider, where do you think things have gone wrong recently?
A. It’s very hard for me because I didn’t know what went on in previous years. But starting fresh this year, we’re not going to put any expectations on the side but definitely we want them to be competitive all the time and play for the 80 minutes and never give in. I think a few games there (this year) you could see they just chucked it in so we just want to be competing all the time to give us any chance to be playing in the business part of the competition in September.
Q. Do you think the foundations are there for the club to be successful?
A. Definitely. You’ve got a great nursery of young players coming up through the ranks. The hardest thing for them is retaining them players. In the past, majority of them have gone on and played for Brisbane. I think the main focus in our junior development is trying to retain them players and hopefully we have a pathway set for them to come up through the ranks and represent the Titans. But definitely there’s plenty of resource here. We’ve got a great training venue, the Gold Coast itself is a beautiful place to live but I’d rather live in a shoebox and win games than lose every week. That’s just a bonus for them I think, living on the Gold Coast. When you’re winning, everything is good so hopefully we can instil that in the players. People want to play the business end of the season. The lifestyle and the money is all well and good but at the end of the day you want to win. If you’re winning comps, it doesn’t matter where you are, people will come.
DOUBLE TROUBLE AS SEAHAWKS SEAL RECRUITMENT COUP
Q. Did you have much to do with Justin Holbrook and fellow assistant Jim Lenihan previously?
A. I’ve had nothing to do with Jimmy, him being up here at Burleigh. With Justin, when I was at the Bulldogs playing he was in the lower grades and also when I was coaching there he was coaching the reserve grade side. So I’ve got a bit of a rapport with Justin. With Justin it made it a bit easier (to work with him) … but with the football fraternity they’re all tarred with the same brush. We like to bag each other. I’m doing most of the bagging but they’re all the same so it makes it easy to fit in.
Q. Do you still have aspirations of being a head coach in the NRL on day?
A. If it ever pops up of course I want to be a head coach but if I go my whole career being an assistant coach, I still feel very fortunate to be involved in the game and involved in something I love doing. If I don’t make it to the top it wouldn’t deter me at all, I’m just privileged to be allowed to do something I love doing.
SEAGULLS STARS RETURN FOR A GRADE TITLE TILT
Q. Who are the players that have impressed you most so far in pre-season training?
A. AJ Brimson, he’s going really well. Jai Arrow’s been doing well. Some of the younger blokes that are coming through, they’re not going too bad. Toby Sexton, he’s been going alright. He’s only 18 but he’s really impressed me. He’s very good on the attacking side of things but on the flip side you’ve also got to defend. But he looks like he’s got a smart head on his shoulders and he’s a student of the game. He’s always watching tape or video and asking questions. But it’s funny with the young blokes, they don’t really know a lot of the history about rugby league. One of them was asking Luke Burt and he said ‘did Jimmy play?’ so it’s funny in that regard. The generation today, they’re so oblivious to the history of the game. I remember when I was at the Bulldogs, one of the young blokes was getting his jumper from Terry Lamb and the bloke didn’t even know who Terry Lamb was.
Q. Have you learnt more during your coaching career than you did as a player?
A. Just because you’re a good player it doesn’t mean it’s going to transfer into coaching. It’s a different skill set. Sometimes good players can see moves coming two or three steps ahead. As a coach, you have to be able to explain that to players, break it down and make it easy for them. As a coach, I think that’s our job to try and teach players. At the end of the day hopefully they can listen to the game plan but also try and play what’s in front of them.
NEW COACH READY TO SOAR WITH EAGLES IN 2020
Q. How did you end up in coaching - were you always headed down that path?
A. It was when I was in London with Tony Rea (former London Broncos coach). I always tried to help the players out and was a bit of a student of the game. I loved the attacking side and trying to count numbers all the time. I was always trying to help the players over there in London and Tony Rea said ‘what are you going to go after you play?’. He said ‘you should coach’ so I thought about it and thought what else am I going to do? Then when I came back I ended up landing a job at the Roosters with Ricky Stuart in the 20s. It was good that I started at the beginning and worked my way slowly up to the top. It’s been a good transition for me and a good learning curve.
Q. You had your fair share of highlights as a player. What stands out?
A. Definitely winning the grand final with the Bulldogs in 1995. Also winning the World Cup with Australia. And Origin, I won an Origin series in 1996 and it was the same 17 players and we whitewashed Queensland. That was pretty special. Anything I do I try to back myself and make the best of it so I haven’t been regretful about anything.
HISTORY MAKER PAVES WAY FOR RLGC REVOLUTION
Q. Who were the teammates you really loved running out alongside?
A. Definitely Jarrod McCracken, Terry Lamb, Jason Hetherington. They were all competitors, they were tough as and they’d always give you 100 per cent, especially Terry Lamb. He was so small but whenever we were struggling and coming out of trouble and the boys were tired, he’d just take the ball up himself. The front-rowers would look at each other and just go ‘what are you doing?’. He didn’t really blow up at them, he would just do it. Andrew Johns was another one, I loved playing with Andrew. He was unbelievable. But I also liked playing with Geoff Toovey, he was that tough. Pound for pound, he’s probably one of the toughest players that ever laced on a boot. Me and Dave (Penna) are very close and he’s working for Tweed (Seagulls) now.
Q. What about off the field - have there been people who have had a major influence on you?
A. As a player, definitely Joe Thomas. He helped me a lot as a kid. He took me to Wests and took me under his wing and helped me out when I was very young. Being a Souths boy and him being a Souths boy, he just looked after me. As a coach, all the coaches I’ve had have all been different. Ricky Stuart is different to Des Hasler but I’ve taken a bit from all of those coaches to try and put my own spin on things. Des has been like a mentor to me.
REVEALED: 20 BEST COAST SPORTING TEAMS OF 2019
JIM DYMOCK FACT FILE
Age: 47
Playing position: lock, five-eighth
Clubs: Wests (1991-92), Canterbury (1993-95), Parramatta (1996-2000), London Broncos (2001-04)
Career matches: 309 (47 tries)
Notes:
■ Six Tests for Australia (1995-96) and six State of Origins for NSW (1996-98)
■ Bulldogs premiership winner (1995)
■ Has previously coached at the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla and Canterbury and with the Tongan national team
You pick: Vote now for ultimate Qld Schoolboys team of the year
Vote now: Discover the top schoolboys rugby league players in Queensland and pick your ultimate team of the year from the NRL’s elite Year 10 and senior competitions. Cast your vote here.
‘Rather go surfing’: How Elgey lost, rekindled, rugby league love
Kane Elgey burst onto the NRL scene but by 25 he was lost to the game. Five years later, he has cleaned up in his rare return. He opens up on loving life as a termite inspector and why he doesn’t regret a thing.