Code jumping a new ball game

THIS week The Chronicle sport team looks at the growing trend of sport organisations poaching coaching talent from rival codes.

Cooper Cronk is chaired off by Roosters’ teammates after their 2019 NRL grand final win. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

JASON GIBBS: Done right, I think this is a great idea.

I’ve been in my fair share of football teams over the years - working with too many coaches to count.

One thing I always noticed - even in my senior years - was you always learned something new about yourself and the game when ever a new coach stepped in.

How someone coaches - be it a team sport or a sole athlete - varies dramatically from individual to the text.

I had a coach who never trained us without a ball at our feet. “You play with a ball, you train with a ball” he’d say.

Another coach insisted I sprint more, “keepers don’t need to run long distances”, I liked that guy.

The point I’m trying to make here is every coach is different within the confines of their own field.

Now imagine the potential for development when you take a coach outside their field.

The appointments of Billy Slater (St Kilda, pictured) and Cooper Cronk (GWS) are no-brainers.

At their core Aussie Rules and rugby league are similar with both codes heavy on contact/tackling, kicking and positional play.

SEAN TEUMA: I think there’s plenty of merit in it, and it shows that teams are thinking outside of the box in terms of trying to get an edge.

These days with the constant evolution of sports science and all sporting clubs boasting incredibly advanced methods of keeping their athletes at an elite level, any advantage is a good one.

Sometimes it takes a bit of lateral thinking from someone outside the sport to do that.

Billy Slater seems to have had a positive impact on St Kilda so far, so maybe it might be time for the Demons to look at employing Greg Inglis to try and turn them around from the basket case they were this year.

The appointment of Drew Ginn by Cricket Australia caused a bit of a stir, but you’d have to think there would be benefits in the decision.

GLEN McCULLOUGH: On face value it sounds weird. Someone from a completely different sport field and culture stepping into foreign territory - almost enemy in the eyes of some - doesn’t quite add up.

The cynic in me says it is a commercial ploy to lure a foreigner on board.

It is definitely seen as a coup for the recruiting code to have an “inconic” sporting name jump the fence.

To have a big name wanting to join your ranks can do wonders for your reputation and credibility.

On the practical side of things, I’m not sure what the success-and-failure rate is of those brought into the fold, but it has potential to be a big winner.

Former American and Australian baseball player and coach Mike Young is a perfect example of those who have made a great fist of code hopping.

Young was idolised by a generation of Australian Test cricketers who benefited from his innovative fielding coaching and motivational skills when brought on board by the ACB.

I think regardless of what technical skills high-profile recruitments bring with them it’s as much about employing the right people.

And in the case of Cooper Cronk joining GWS, they have scored a star club addition who can only be good for the Giants in whatever capacity.