Gold Coast Eagles appoint coach Leigh Ireland to lead club into new era

The Gold Coast Eagles have appointed a former Queensland Premier Rugby stalwart to guide the team into a new era as head coach.

12th November 2020, Jason Teren and Leigh Ireland - Leigh Ireland will take over as head coach of the Gold Coast Eagles in 2021 Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

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The Gold Coast Eagles have appointed former Queensland Premier Rugby stalwart Leigh Ireland to guide the team into a new era as head coach.

Ireland will assume the role immediately after former coach Jai Johnson tendered his resignation after the 2020 season.

The former Sunnybank, Wests and Souths prop said it was fate that brought him to the Eagles.

“I’d done a fair bit of player-coaching as a scrum specialist and set piece coach and this year was meant to be my last hurrah,” the 32-year-old said.

12th November 2020, Jason Teren and Leigh Ireland - Leigh Ireland will take over as head coach of the Gold Coast Eagles in 2021 Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

“Unfortunately I got told I had to retire from playing because of a neck injury.

“I saw the ad for the Eagles job go up a couple of weeks after the bad news about my neck.

“I’d come to a crossroads in my career because coaching is where I wanted to be, and my family live down and the opportunity arose. It was like fate.”

Ireland beat out a field of 30 applicants to win the volunteer position on a platform of building the club for long-term success.

Ireland said his coaching ethos was to help the club grow its pathway from junior football through to seniors.

“I want the whole club to be one team rowing in one direction,” he said.

“I believe in having faith in my players and having a one-team mentality from first grade to under-14s.

“My role is not just going to be first grade, I want to be hands on with juniors to build that base to build the club.”

As a former front row forward Ireland said his first graders would forge a physical identity that would create opportunities for talented halves and fullbacks to exploit.

12th November 2020, Leigh Ireland - Leigh Ireland will take over as head coach of the Gold Coast Eagles in 2021 Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp

Ireland said he would bolster the team with key elements from further afield including new recruits and new coaches as needed, but did not believe the club’s first grade team needed to start from scratch.

“At some stage I’ll look in to that but we have a good group here we can build on,” he said.

“Eagles have a strong history and heritage and my focus is helping the Eagles who are already here.

“We’ll review what key players to bring in after 2021.”

EARLIER

GOLD Coast Eagles coach Jai Johnson has stepped down from his post after three seasons at the Gold Coast’s oldest rugby club.

Johnson said he resigned to spend more time with his family and because of increased demands on his time that brought his ability to commit to the team in 2021 into question.

“It’s been an honour and privilege to coach such a prestigious club on the Gold Coast and I can only hope as I leave that I leave a legacy they can carry on moving forward,” Johnson said.

“I think we’ve got the senior playing group to a good space that I can hand it over to someone else to take the next step.

“I can’t commit past June due to other opportunities that may arise so I advised the club they should look for a coach who could commit to the whole season.

“I absolutely plan to be around the club and I’ve offered my help with anything they’d like to me to do. “

Johnson joined the Eagles late in 2017 and finished within a match of the 2018 grand final in his first season as head coach.

In 2019 the Eagles missed finals qualification by a single point.

The Eagles won just three first grade matches in 2020 but a second grade grand final appearance is a sure sign the club are building once again.

Johnson said the 2018 semi-final win over Helensvale, where the Eagles overcame a 23-0 deficit to win 26-23, was his proudest win with the club but not his favourite memory.

That, he said, was mentoring the young men of the club.

“As a coach, whilst you’re there to do stuff on the rugby field, some of the greatest achievements is stuff off the field,” Johnson said.

“Helping men become better fathers and husbands and guiding them in better directions and assisting them in that manner.

“I’ve been able to work with some outstanding young men throughout this time. As a coach that’s more rewarding than the wins and the losses.”

The Eagles will farewell Johnson this weekend before appointing his successor.