Kangaroos coach Rhyce Shaw says family is the reason he won the main role

Rhyce Shaw jokes he has barely seen his wife Lia since taking on the Kangaroos’ senior coaching role in late May, but he insists he wouldn’t have the job on a permanent basis now without her.

Newly appointed North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw. Pic: Getty Images

Rhyce Shaw jokes he has barely seen his wife Lia since taking on the Kangaroos’ senior role in late May, but insists he wouldn’t have the job on a permanent basis without her.

Shaw took time out to chat to the Herald Sun following yesterday’s press conference, saying he couldn’t be more grateful to his wife, his two sons — Freddie (4) and Louis (2) — and his famous footballing family.

“I can’t believe the support I’ve received from my family and my friends,” Shaw said. “It’s been unbelievable.”

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Newly appointed North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw wouldn’t be where he is without his family’s support. Pic: Getty Images

A desire to be closer to his family — particularly to his father, former Collingwood star Ray Shaw, and his mother, Lisa — was one of the key reasons behind moving his immediate family back to Melbourne late last year after spending the best part of a decade in Sydney.

His wife has balanced a full-time job with ticketing agency Eventbrite with the extra hours looking after their two children throughout Shaw’s two-month caretaker stint.

“Lia works full-time and she has never once complained,” Shaw said.

“It’s been tag in and tag out (at home). We don’t see each other really, (but) she has been unbelievable and never once thought of herself.

“She has just thought about me and this opportunity.”

He has introduced his sons to life at Arden St, even if Freddie needs some reassuring following a mishap a few weeks ago.

“Freddie has been into the club a bit, (but) he got hit in the face with a basketball, so he hasn’t been back since,” Shaw said with a smile.

“My two boys ... have kept me grounded.”

Ray, Heath and Rhyce Shaw after the Pies’ 2010 grand final win.

Shaw says his brother, Heath, and sister, Laine, have always kept him grounded.

“They have been fantastic in making sure that I remain myself, and no one else,” he said.

He revealed one of his three AFL coaches — Paul Roos — had been a key “sounding board” throughout his process with the Kangaroos.

“Roosy has been a fantastic support to me for a long period of time,” he said. “Throughout this process he has been a sounding board for me.”

Asked if Roos could be sounded out for an official role next year, Shaw said: “I think those kind of decisions would have to be made down the track.”

He also praised Swans assistant coach John Blakey and Swans official Craig Holden for their guidance in his initial foray into coaching.

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