Damien Hardwick Gold Coast: Interim coach Steven King backs club’s push for ‘terrific’ Stuart Dew replacement

Gold Coast’s interim coach Steven King has given his thoughts on the club’s pursuit of Damien Hardwick and whether he would stay with the Suns if the triple premiership coach was appointed.

Steven King. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Gold Coast interim coach Steven King has thrown his support behind the club’s pursuit of Damien Hardwick declaring the triple-premiership coach would be a “terrific” man to take the reins next season.

The former Richmond coach, who stepped down from his role at Punt Rd earlier this season citing burnout, was almost immediately linked to the Gold Coast job even before the club sacked former coach Stuart Dew last month.

Last week it was reported that Suns CEO Mark Evans and chairman Bob East had flown to Italy to speak to Hardwick in person, with a five-year deal on the table.

Damien Hardwick left Richmond after 307 games as head coach. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

King took over as interim coach in round 18 following Dew’s departure and has piloted the Suns to a 2-2 record in that span, including a drought-breaking QClash victory over Brisbane.

Asked for his thoughts on the club’s now very public pursuit of Hardwick, King said it changed nothing as far as he was concerned.

“It doesn’t really affect me,” he said.

“Clearly the club would have an ideal candidate in place and if that has transpired – if Dimma is someone they’ve got an eye on — that’s terrific.

“A three-time premiership coach is someone every club would love to have, so for me personally it doesn’t really change anything at all.”

Since taking over from Dew, King has spoken regularly of his desire to be a senior coach in the future but said he would be happy to continue as an assistant at the Suns next season.

“I got this opportunity and experience and it’s one I’m really grateful for,” King said.

“You never know what it’s like until you’ve done it and the last month has been for me a challenge, but one I’ve found really comfortable doing.

“Yeah I’ve got ambitions (to be a senior coach) in the future but I’m also really committed here and driving this group forward and whatever that looks like in the future, I’m really happy to play my role and being an assistant coach moving forward.

Steven King has led the Suns to a 2-2 record since taking over from Stuart Dew last month. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“We’ve got a great footy department here and I’m sure the club will look after our people.

“I’m sure Damien is sitting back – or the new coach, whoever that may be – is looking at our group going, ‘We’ve got a really good footy department here’.”

With the former Geelong premiership player seemingly ruling himself out of the running for next season, King said the focus now was breaking the 10-win barrier and making 2023 the most successful season in the club’s history.

“For the player group I think we’ve got motivation to finish the year really strongly,” he said.

“If the players can grab motivation knowing that there’s probably someone (Hardwick) from afar watching our games and seeing how we go about it, that’s great.

“We’re really keen to just make sure we finish the year strong, try and get 11 or 12 wins as a team … that’s our focus.”

Gold Coast all but dropped out of the finals race with its loss to Adelaide at the weekend.

The Suns travel to Sydney to face the Swans on Saturday.

Originally published as Damien Hardwick Gold Coast: Interim coach Steven King backs club’s push for ‘terrific’ Stuart Dew replacement